LGBTQ+ youth experience mental health challenges at higher rates than their straight, cisgender peers. That’s because they experience higher rates of prejudice, discrimination, and rejection, from society at large and sometimes from family members.
New research from the Trevor Project looks at the specific diagnoses reported by LGBTQ+ teens and young adults. The study found that an overwhelming number of the participants wanted mental healthcare, even when they didn’t have a diagnosis. Yet between 30 and 50 percent of them didn’t access treatment.
In this article, we look at the new statistics and examine the reasons why LGBTQ+ youth don’t receive they care they want and need.
New Research on LGBTQ+ Mental Health and Suicide Risk
A major survey from The Trevor Project, released in May 2026, looked at data from nearly 16,000 participants across the country. The results show that 62 percent of LGBTQ+ teens and young adults (ages 13–24) recently experienced anxiety, and 47 percent recently experienced depressive symptoms.
The percentages were very similar among teens vs. young adults. Across age groups, trans and nonbinary young people were the most likely to report symptoms of anxiety and/or depression.
In addition, the survey found that 36 percent of LGBTQ+ young people seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year. And 1 in 10 actually made a suicide attempt. Teens were more likely than young adults to consider suicide (45 percent vs. 15 percent) and to make an attempt (15 percent vs. 8 percent).
Access to Care Among LGBTQ+ Youth
According to the Trevor Project survey, 84 percent of LGBTQ+ young people wanted mental healthcare. This indicates that young people recognize their need for support and want to find help.
However, 44 percent of this group was not able to access care. That means nearly half of the young people who are motivated to get help and could benefit from care are not getting the professional support they want and need.
Why LGBTQ+ Young People Don’t Access Care
The survey also asked participants about factors that prevent them from receiving mental healthcare. Here are five of the most common reasons LGBTQ+ teens and young adults don’t get professional help, such as weekly therapy or a treatment program.
1. Unable to Afford Care
The cost of care is another significant barrier for LGBTQ+ young people. The survey found that 46 percent of young people cited “couldn’t afford it” as their reason for not accessing care.
To address this barrier, Newport Healthcare works with most major insurance companies to cover the cost of treatment for our clients. Find out more about using insurance to pay for care.
2. Fear of Talking About Their Mental Health Concerns with Others
Among all survey participants, this was the second most common reason cited for not accessing care, with 39 percent reporting fears of opening up about their mental health symptoms. Stigma around mental health issues and treatment, fear of negative repercussions, and difficulty expressing what they’re going through are all factors preventing young people from speaking to others about their struggles.
3. Don’t Want to Get Permission from a Parent or Caregiver
For some LGBTQ+ teens, talking to family members about their mental health issues feels incredibly scary. This might be due to a lack of trust between parent and child, the family’s religious or cultural beliefs, or a family culture in which emotions aren’t usually talked about. To help families create an affirming environment, download our guide for supporting LGBTQ+ children.
4. Afraid They Won’t Be Taken Seriously
This is another area in which family members can make an important impact, by prioritizing open communication, unconditional love, and non-judgment. It can be hard to tell the difference between typical teen behavior and mental health symptoms, and sometimes parents don’t want to believe their child is unhappy. But parents should always take young people’s concerns seriously and support them in accessing mental healthcare.
5. Scared of Having Police Called or Being Hospitalized Without Their Consent
Nearly half (46 percent) of transgender boys and men cited this fear as a significant obstacle preventing them from seeking care. This underlines the importance of providing compassionate, gender-affirming care for trans people, as well as education about the process of accessing care.
Newport’s Affirming Care for LGBTQ+ Young People
Newport is dedicated to providing gender-inclusive and LGBTQ+-affirming care. Our initiatives to support the LGBTQ+ community include partnering with The Trevor Project to provide support for their outreach and crisis prevention work. In addition, some 2,000 Newpor employees attended The Trevor Project’s in-depth Ally Training program, led by their public education team, in addition to specialized training for Newport clinicians to best support LGBTQ clients and families and provide inclusive, educated care.
Moreover, as part of our mission to empower young people and restore families, we rigorously collect and track data on our treatment outcomes, through the Newport Healthcare Center for Research and Innovation. Close to half of Newport’s clients identify as LGBTQ+, and these clients experience report higher rates of risk factors (such as bullying and sexual coercion) and more acute mental health symptoms. Nevertheless, our LGBTQ clients show significant improvement throughout the course of treatment in measures of depression, anxiety, suicidality, family connection, and well-being.
