Mental health of LGBTI+ youth badly impacted by pandemic

The Covid-19 pandemic has had a devastating impact on the mental health of young LGBTI+ people, a new survey has shown.

According to the findings, 97% of LGBTI+ youth are struggling with stress, anxiety or depression, while 83% have experienced acute loneliness throughout the pandemic.

A further 63% are struggling with suicidal ideation, while 50% are struggling with self-harm.

Overall, 58% described their mental health as “bad” or “very bad”, while 56% said they were not fully accepted in their home environment.

The survey was carried out by BeLonG To Youth Services – the national organisation that supports lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex young people. Over 2,200 young people aged between 14 and 24 from all over Ireland took part between April and May of this year.

According to BeLonG To, many LGBTI+ youth were already struggling with mental health before the pandemic. For example, this group was four times more likely to experience anxiety and depression compared to their non-LGBTI+ peers. However, these risks have been exacerbated during the pandemic.

“The past 12 months have been extremely difficult for LGBTI+ young people. Levels of self-harm and suicide ideation are rising as LGBTI+ young people experience unique mental health challenges. Many formal and informal safety nets, supports and services have been unavailable because of lockdowns and increased social isolation,” explained BeLonG To’s CEO, Moninne Griffith.

She pointed to the finding that over half of LGBTI+ young people do not feel accepted at home, noting that this can kind of rejection can result in stress, anxiety, loneliness and other complex mental health challenges.

“We need to let LGBTI+ young people know that they are not alone. We need to show LGBTI+ young people across Ireland that there are spaces for them to come together, be who they are, and receive the support they need,” Ms Griffith said.

Some of the responses to the survey included:

-“I can’t see friends. I’m estranged from family so being on my own all the time has messed with my head”

-“I’ve had thoughts of self-harm almost daily for the first time in five years”

-“I have spent the entire year of this pandemic at least somewhat suicidal, to the point of very active suicidal planning at times. Eventually this resulted in me attempting to end my life”.

The key findings of the survey can be viewed here.