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These supportive actions can decrease the risk of suicide, notes a new research brief from the crisis intervention group.
Trusting that they know who they are, standing up for them, and not supporting anti-LGBTQ+ politicians are among the best ways to support transgender and nonbinary youth, says a new research brief from the Trevor Project. It’s based on information from the young people themselves.
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The brief, released Wednesday, which marked the start of Transgender Awareness Week, uses data from the 2024 U.S. National Survey on the Mental Health of LGBTQ+ Young People.
“With more knowledge about supportive actions and their possible impacts, TGNB youth can be better cared for by parents, caregivers, friends, and community,” the brief says. This support can also help decrease suicide risk, it notes.
When asked how people in their lives can best show support, the top 10 ways reported by respondents were:
When asked specifically about parents and caregivers, trans and nonbinary respondents said these actions made them feel supported: being welcoming and kind to their LGBTQ+ friends or partners (74 percent), talking respectfully with them about their LGBTQ+ friends or partners (67 percent), supporting their gender expression (such as buying new clothes or helping them get a haircut (60 percent), using their name and pronouns correctly (49 percent), educating themselves about LGBTQ+ issues (48 percent), respectfully discussing these issues with them (46 percent), encouraging others to respect their identity (41 percent), asking how their identity should be discussed (40 percent, taking them to LGBTQ+ events (32 percent), and standing up for them when they were being mistreated (25 percent).
But 60 percent of the trans and nonbinary participants said their parents or caregivers engaged in less than half of the listed actions, and 17 percent reported experiencing none of these actions. Only 6 percent said their parents or caregivers engaged in all of the listed actions that were applicable to them.
Younger respondents — ages 13-17 — were more likely to report experiencing no or few supportive actions than those ages 18-24. Young people of color experienced less support than white youth.
Greater parent or caregiver support was related to lower suicide risk among trans and nonbinary young people. Those who experienced none or very few supportive actions reported the highest rate of a past-year suicide attempt (19 percent), followed by those who experienced a few supportive actions (14 percent), some supportive actions (13 percent), and many or all supportive actions (11 percent). Ab increase of just one supportive action from parents and caregivers was associated with 6 percent lower odds of a suicide attempt in the past year.
“The data reveal a powerful connection between parents’ and caregivers’ supportive actions, perceived family support, and lower risk of suicide attempts among TGNB young people,” the brief states. The findings also “highlight the need to support TGNB young people and their families at younger ages and in culturally affirming ways,” the document says.
“Ultimately, fostering widespread understanding of TGNB identities and experiences, both within families and communities, is essential for improving mental health outcomes and reducing the risk of suicide among TGNB youth,” it concludes. “This research documents the relationship between specific supportive actions and TGNB youths’ feelings of being supported by family members, which deserves further exploration in future research.”
If you or someone you know needs mental health resources and support, please call, text, or chat with the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline or visit988lifeline.org for 24/7 access to free and confidential services. Trans Lifeline, designed for transgender or gender-nonconforming people, can be reached at (877) 565-8860. The Trevor Project Lifeline, for LGBTQ+ youth (ages 24 and younger), can be reached at (866) 488-7386. Users can also access chat services at TheTrevorProject.org/Help or text START to 678678.
