A groundbreaking study reveals the devastating impact of restrictive state laws on transgender and non-binary youth. The research uncovers a causal link between these laws and a staggering 72% increase in suicide attempts among this vulnerable population. This sobering finding underscores the urgent need to protect the rights and well-being of transgender individuals, particularly the young. Transgender Rights and Suicide Prevention are critical issues that deserve our attention.
Severe Effects of Anti-Trans Laws
The Trevor Project has shed light on an unprecedented connection in a new study published in Nature Human Behavior, linking transgender population-based suicide attempts with state laws targeting transgender people.
Looking at data from more than 61,000 transgender and non-binary youth over five years, the study found that in states with anti-transgender laws, participants younger than 18 were 72 percent more likely to have attempted suicide within a year of being surveyed. Suicide attempt rates increased 38% to 44% among the larger group of those aged 13 to 24.
The Urgent Need for Change
These results serve as a powerful reminder of the pernicious impact that discriminatory policies could have on transgender and non-binary people’s mental health, especially those who are still young. The state level of U.S. is so vociferous against Transgender Rights that vicepresident research at The Trevor Project Dr Ronita Nath said “With the recent tidal wave of anti-transgender laws in states across the country, lives are quite literally on the line for transgender and nonbinary youth.”
The causal inference design of the study provides strong empirical support that these laws are causally contributing to the increased risk for suicide, not merely associated with increased risk. That has major implications for the many state and federal lawsuits still ongoing about whether transition-related care should be banned from being provided to minors — including a case the Supreme Court will hear this year.
Protecting Transgender Youth
This study underscores the importance for policymakers, community leaders, and others to act now to protect and support transgender and non-binary youth. “Transgender and nonbinary young people are our family, our friends and our neighbors,” said Jaymes Black, CEO of The Trevor Project. You do not need to fathom everything about their experience but you can see that they too —with all youth are entitled to dignity, respect and a “chance living”.
Creating a climate of acceptance and support, access to health care that affirms the identity of each individual is a productive way to offset the harmful effects of anti-transgender legislation and provide all young people with an equal opportunity for success, irrespective of their gender identity. We bear that collective responsibility in shaping a world where transgender and non-binary people live with the dignity, respect, and support.
