2SLGBTQ+ youth are at increased risk for mental health difficulties and thoughts of suicide
Compared to their cisgender, heterosexual peers, youth aged 15 to 24 years who are Two-Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer and those who use other terms related to gender or sexual diversity (2SLGBTQ+) were found to be at higher risk for mental health disorders and having thoughts of suicide in 2022. For example, 27% of 2SLGBTQ+ youth met criteria for a major depressive episode in the year prior to the survey, compared with 11% of cisgender, heterosexual youth. Approximately 1 in 4 (25%) 2SLGBTQ+ youth reported thoughts of suicide during this period, compared with 5% of cisgender, heterosexual youth.
The study "Mental health and access to support among 2SLGBTQ+ youth" released today in Health Reports, uses data from the 2022 Mental Health and Access to Care Survey to examine differences in the prevalence of mental health disorders between 2SLGBTQ+ youth and their peers, as well as differences in their social experiences and help-seeking behaviour.
2SLGBTQ+ youth report more negative social experiences than their peers
Previous research suggests that the social context faced by 2SLGBTQ+ youth, including discrimination, harassment, and exclusion, might explain differences in mental health risks for this population. The current study found that while there were no significant differences in levels of social support, 2SLGBTQ+ youth did experience, on average, more frequent negative social interactions than cisgender, heterosexual youth.
However, these differences did not entirely account for mental health disparities between the two groups, suggesting that the survey did not fully capture the unique social experiences of 2SLGBTQ+ youth.
2SLGBTQ+ youth are more likely to have talked to a health professional about their mental health
Among those who met criteria for a mental health or substance use disorder, 66% of 2SLGBTQ+ youth and 38% of cisgender, heterosexual youth reported that they had talked to a health professional about their mental health or substance use in the year prior to the survey.
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The article "Mental health and access to support among 2SLGBTQ+ youth" is now available in the November 2024 online issue of Health Reports, Vol. 35, No. 11 (82-003-X).
This issue of Health Reports also contains the article "Updated breast cancer costs for women by disease stage and phase of care using population-based databases."
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Contact information
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