Significant mental health challenges experienced by Ireland's young LGBTQI+ population: report

Posted on: 25 April 2024

Findings of a new study from the School of Nursing and Midwifery and published in association with Belong To show that mental health and wellbeing have declined amongst the LGBTQI+ population since 2016.

Significant mental health challenges experienced by Ireland's young LGBTQI+ population: report

In 2016, the first ever comprehensive report on the mental health of Ireland’s LGBTQI+ community as well as attitudes of the general public towards LGBTI+ people was conducted by Trinity College Dublin and published in association with Belong To and GLEN. That report, ‘LGBTIreland’ was based on research conducted by a team at Trinity. Now, eight years on, the new report - ‘Being LGBTQI+ in Ireland’ - involving over 2,800 LGBTQI+ people, builds on the findings from that initial report and includes a comparative analysis.

KEY FINDINGS

Key findings from the new study indicate that mental health and wellbeing have declined amongst the LGBTQI+ population since 2016, with significant challenges experienced by younger age groups and the transgender and gender non-conforming communities.

Amongst the 631 14- to18-year-olds who participated in the study:

50% experienced severe/extremely severe symptoms of depression
66% experienced severe/extremely severe symptoms of anxiety
41% experienced severe/extremely severe symptoms of stress
59% had a possible eating disorder
72% had self-harmed
77% reported suicidal thoughts
33% had made a suicide attempt

Compared to adolescents (12-19 years) in the My World Survey 2*, a national study of youth mental health conducted in 2019 by mental health charity Jigsaw and UCD, LGBTQI+ young people aged14 - 18 in this study had:

3 times the level of severe or extremely severe symptoms of depression and anxiety
3 times the level of self-harm
2 times the level of suicidal thoughts
5 times the level of suicide attempts

Of the 560 19- to 25-year-olds who participated, the figures decreased slightly compared to the figures for the 14– to 18-year-olds on almost each mental health measure:

35% experienced severe/extremely severe symptoms of depression
47% experienced severe/extremely severe symptoms of anxiety
29% experienced severe/extremely severe symptoms of stress
47% had a possible eating disorder
65% had self-harmed
75% reported suicidal thoughts
33% had made a suicide attempt

In comparison to cisgender participants, mental health challenges were highest amongst the transgender and gender non-conforming community:

44% experienced severe/extremely severe symptoms of depression
55% experienced severe/extremely severe symptoms of anxiety
35% experienced severe/extremely severe symptoms of stress
50% had a possible eating disorder
75% had self-harmed
82% reported suicidal thoughts
39% had made a suicide attempt

Although the study found a positive change in public attitudes towards LGB people since 2016, the public surveyed had less favourable attitudes towards the transgender and intersex communities. People who reported more knowledge and more frequent interaction with transgender and intersex people were significantly more likely to have positive attitudes.

Increase in mental health challenges amongst the LGBTI+ population since 2016

Amongst the total LGBTI+ population, within the study the new report also shows:

27% experienced severe/ extremely severe symptoms of depression
34% experienced severe/ extremely severe symptoms of anxiety
23% experienced severe/ extremely severe symptoms stress
52% had self-harmed
64% reported suicidal thoughts
26% had made a suicide attempt

Significantly, since the 2016 LGBTIreland studythere has been a:

17% increase in symptoms of severe /extremely severe symptoms of depression
30% increase in symptoms of severe /extremely severe symptoms of anxiety
33% increase in symptoms of severe /extremely severe symptoms of stress

In response to the mental health challenges facing them, 60% of participants had sought professional help for a mental health problem in the past five years.

LGBTQI+ community groups critical to supporting positive mental health

Despite these figures, the report demonstrated the important and critical role LGBTQI+ community groups and support networks (family, friends, peers, work colleagues) play in supporting positive mental health amongst the community.

84% of participants felt that having a connection with the LGBTQI+ community through LGBTQI+ groups had a positive impact on their mental health, with 93% of participants rating making LGBTQI+ friends as also having a positive impact.

Speaking about the study findings today, Professor Agnes Higgins, Professor In Mental Health, Trinity College Dublin, who led the research team, said:

“While much progress has been achieved and the majority of LGBTQI+ people over 25 years of age are doing well, the findings continue to highlight that a significant proportion of those under 25 years of age are struggling with their mental health, self-reporting high levels of self-harm, suicidal behaviour, symptoms of possible eating disorders, and symptoms of severe and extremely severe stress, anxiety and depression. The research also reveals that in comparison to their cisgender peers, transgender and gender non-conforming participants report poorer mental health.

“For LGBTQI+ adolescents, school continues to be a challenging place, with many experiencing or witnessing homophobic, transphobic, or biphobic bullying. Bullying not only negatively impacted on young people’s desire to leave school early, but those who experienced LGBTQI+ related bullying in school, had poorer wellbeing and mental health outcomes in comparison to those who had not experienced LGBTQI+ related bullying. For many transgender and gender non-conforming participants, the school environment was particularly challenging in terms of expressing one’s gender identity.

“It is also clear that harassment and anti-LGBTQI+ hate speech is still a reality for many LGBTQI+ people in Ireland today, with many feeling unsafe to express their sexual orientation or gender identity in public. The expansion of online forums appears to be exacerbating the problem, with 23% reporting experiencing anti-LGBTQI+ hate speech either online or in public media within the last year.

“The research has also many positive messages, with many expressing pride in their LGBTQI+ identity, as well as celebrating the connection, solidarity and sense of belonging that being engaged in LGBTQI+ culture and politics engenders. Importantly, a positive shift in public attitudes since 2016 was also evident, although less favourable attitudes towards transgender and intersex communities was apparent."

Moninne Griffith (she/her), CEO of Belong To, said:

“The findings of ‘Being LGBTQI+ in Ireland’ are disheartening and upsetting, but to those of us working to support LGBTQI+ people, unfortunately they are not surprising. Anti-LGBTQI+ and particularly anti-trans attacks are on the rise, and we are seeing increasing levels of hate directed at our community.

“The first study in this series was conducted close to the time of the Marriage Equality referendum, when hopes were high as to what the future held for LGBTQI+ people in Ireland. However, a sense of complacency regarding support for LGBTQI+ people has crept into Irish society since then, with a perception that – because Marriage Equality was achieved and Pride has become a central calendar highlight for the country as a whole – the struggles of LGBTQI+ people have disappeared.

“This study demonstrates the harsh reality that the opposite is true – depression, anxiety and stress have increased amongst the community, and respondents have reported increases in witnessing bullying in schools, and more young people are considering leaving school early as a result of the treatment they receive.

“These upsetting findings should serve as a rallying cry to the Government, policymakers and allies to work with us to end anti-LGBTQI+ stigma and discrimination, and create a society where the LGBTQI+ community can feel safe and supported.

“Despite these findings, there are some positives to be taken from the report, in particular the important role that LGBTQI+ organisations like Belong To and community groups throughout the country play in providing safe spaces for young people. These spaces allow our young LGBTQI+ people to grow into their identity, develop positive relationships, and witness the joy and pride that comes with belonging to the LGBTQI+ community.”

The study was launched at an event in the Mansion House in Dublin today by broadcaster Brendan Courtney, with a keynote from author Dr Seán Hewitt and featured a panel discussion with a number of LGBTQI+ people sharing their experiences.

READ THE REPORT: The ‘Being LGBTQI+ in Ireland’ study can be downloaded here:

Media Contact:

Ciara O’Shea | Media Relations | coshea9@tcd.ie | +353 1 896 4204