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However, a that now affects more teenagers compared with a decade ago has been overlooked in explanations for this increase 鈥� stress related to sexual identity.
As on , we conducted showing that the increase in suicidal thoughts and behaviors corresponds with a dramatic rise in the number of female high school students who identify as LGBQ 鈥� lesbian, gay, bisexual or questioning.
A double bind for LGBQ teens
While some LGBQ youth are growing up in supportive environments, suggest that an increasing number may be experiencing a 鈥� a communication dilemma in which a person receives two or more mutually conflicting messages.
Many LGBQ youth may believe it鈥檚 safe to 鈥渃ome out鈥� due to greater access to information and the increased . But could expose them to discrimination and social stress in their schools, families and communities.
This stress related to sexual orientation can contribute to a , including suicide.
We analyzed national data from over 44,000 U.S. high school students who took the in 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2021. We did this to understand these parallel national trends of .
Between 2015 and 2021, the percentage of jumped from 15% to 34%. During this same period, all females who reported they thought about suicide . Creating a plan to commit suicide rose from 19% to 23%.
But looking at the data more closely reveals something crucial: Girls who identified as LGBQ consistently reported much higher rates of thinking about, planning and attempting suicide.
In 2021, about , compared with roughly 20% of heterosexual females. When we accounted for this difference statistically, we found the overall rise in female suicidal thoughts and behaviors were explained by more students identifying as LGBQ.
Meanwhile, , with similar smaller changes in suicidal thoughts and behaviors.
Why more students may be identifying as LGBQ
The increase in LGBQ identification among more female students in the past decade likely indicates and . It may also reflect the , including in popular media and leadership roles, which may help young people .
Today鈥檚 teenagers, regardless of sexual orientation, have more language and representation to help them make sense of their experiences than previous generations did. Some teens have and attend of their sexual orientation.
However, identifying as LGBQ may still come with significant challenges for many youth.
Research has consistently shown that LGBQ youth face . They include , and .
Studies incorporating find that, despite more societal acceptance, LGBTQ+ people born in the 1990s reported stressors at least as high as older generations born in the 1950s-80s. And younger generations reported the highest rate of suicide attempts.
Our findings highlight a critical point. The rising rates of suicidal thoughts and behaviors among all teenage girls cannot be understood in isolation from their social context and identities. While more young people feel able to openly identify as LGBQ, many still face substantial challenges that can affect their mental health.
We believe this understanding has important implications for how we address the crisis. Simply implementing general suicide prevention programs may not be enough. Experts may need to craft targeted support that addresses the specific challenges and pressures faced by LGBQ youth.
The need for supportive school environments
Schools play a crucial role in supporting student well-being.
However, states such as , and have recently .
Since 2021, legislators in at least .
Other states, such as , and , don鈥檛 outright ban this curriculum. But they severely restrict how educators can discuss sexual orientation and gender identity by adding additional burdens on educators, including parental notification requirements.
The Trump Administration, meanwhile, has and recently .
Our research suggests this approach could be dangerous.
If we want to address rising suicidal thoughts and behaviors among teenage girls, we need to understand and support LGBQ youth better.
Rather than reducing support, schools, parents and youth advocates could maintain and expand their resources to support LGBQ youth. This includes efforts to create safe and affirming , and and to support LGBQ students effectively.
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