Health Disparities
What health problems do you think Jasper may be at risk for?
Mental Health
- Over 70% of LGBTQIA+ youth feel sad or hopeless, decreasing their motivation to do their daily activities.
- 28% of all LGBTQIA+ youth (40% of transgender youth) report feeling depressed, as compared to 12% of their non-LGBTQ+ peers.
- LGBTQIA+ youth are up to six times more likely to have depression or anxiety than non-LGBTQIA+ youth.
- 95% have sleep difficulties.
- 39% have seriously considered attempting suicide.
- Over 50% of transgender and gender non-conforming youth seriously considered attempting suicide.
Increased Health Risk Behaviors
- LGBTQIA+ youth are 2-4 times more likely to develop a substance use disorder compared to non-LGBTQ+ people.
- LGBTQIA+ youth are less likely to participate in sports and other social activities.
- Youth who engage in same-sex intercourse are more likely to engage in risky sexual behaviors (e.g., unprotected sex; sex without getting tested for STIs).
Self-Harm
- LGBTQIA+ youth are up to 3.2 times more likely than non-LGBTQIA+ youth to engage in self-harm.
- 38-53% of LGB youth engage in self-harm.
- LGBTQIA+ youth are twice as likely to attempt suicide.
- Those that undergo conversion therapy (“reparative therapy”) are at even greater odds of attempting suicide.
- 40% of transgender youth have attempted suicide, as compare to less than 5% of non-LGBTQ+ youth.
Poor Health Outcomes
- Approximately 54-75% have an eating disorder.
- Transgender youth are 4x more likely to have an eating disorder.
- Bisexual girls and other girls questioning their sexuality are less likely to use protection during sex.
- LGBTQIA+ girls are 2-5 times more likely than heterosexual girls to have a teen pregnancy (Charlton et al., 2018).
LGBTQ+ Youth of Color
- Face discrimination based on both their LGBTQIA+ and racial identities.
- Are overrepresented in child welfare and juvenile detention systems.
- These challenges can threaten the health and well-being of LGBTQIA+ youth.
- More likely to experience violence, have language barriers, face greater disciplinary action for similar behaviors.
- May feel unwelcome, and have more difficulty finding acceptance and loving relationships.
