Surge in Suicide Attempts Among Trans and Nonbinary Youth Sparks Alarms Over Anti-Trans Laws

A recent study, published in the journal Nature Human Behavior, reveals alarming increases in suicide attempts among transgender and nonbinary youth in states implementing anti-transgender laws. The research indicates that such attempts surged by as much as 72 percent over a five-year period.

Dr. Ronita Nath, vice president of research at The Trevor Project, facilitated the study and remarked, “We know from previous research that transgender/nonbinary people, they’re not inherently prone to increased suicide risk of their identities, but rather, they’re placed at higher risk because of how they’re mistreated and stigmatized by others.” This underscores the impact of discriminatory policies examined in the report.

The study surveyed 61,000 individuals aged 13 to 24 from 2018 to 2022. It draws a crucial link between youth mental health and the surge of anti-trans legislation, a topic that has gained prominence in political discourse. Researchers discovered concerning trends: states that enacted at least one anti-trans law experienced suicide attempts increasing from 7 percent to 72 percent within a single year. Overall, a rise between 38-44 percent in suicide attempts was noted across the entire sample.

Jaymes Black, CEO of The Trevor Project, emphasized the negative repercussions of such policies, stating, “Anti-transgender policies, and the dangerous rhetoric surrounding them, take a measurable toll on the health and safety of transgender and nonbinary young people all across the country.”

The data indicated that younger individuals, particularly ages 13-17, exhibited a 33-49 percent increase in suicide attempts compared to their older counterparts. Nath explained that restricted access to gender-affirming medical care due to minor-targeted bans likely contributed to this disparity. Moreover, youth aged 18 and older tend to have greater access to supportive communities and resources.

Research also highlighted that youth of color faced heightened risks, struggling against a dual burden of transphobia and racism exacerbated by laws targeting both gender identity and ethnic background.

From 2018 to 2022, a total of 48 anti-transgender bills were enacted across various states, restricting access to essential services such as gender-affirming healthcare, restrooms, and participation in sports. Despite the challenges posed by COVID-19 during this period, researchers found scant evidence that the pandemic significantly influenced suicide attempt rates among the surveyed youth.

However, the trend of anti-trans policies has only escalated since then, with 1,197 such bills introduced in 2023 and 2024, of which 129 became law. Researchers noted that while the introduction of anti-trans legislation did not correlate meaningfully with suicide attempts, the enactment of these laws had a detrimental effect.

The report concludes by stating, “For transgender and nonbinary young people, anti-transgender laws may signal a broader societal rejection of their identities, communicating that their identities and bodies are neither valid nor worthy of protection.” Such findings underscore the urgent need for advocacy and supportive measures for vulnerable youth populations.