Trigger Warning: This article discusses sensitive topics, including suicide, mental health struggles, and the impact of anti-transgender legislation on LGBTQ+ youth. Reader discretion is advised.
A new study published in Nature Human Behaviour on Thursday has found a disturbing link between the enactment of anti-transgender legislation and a sharp rise in suicide attempts among transgender and nonbinary youth. The research, which examined the period between 2018 and 2022, revealed an increase in suicide attempts by as much as 72% among trans and nonbinary teens living in states that passed anti-trans laws.
The research highlights a stark reality: state-level anti-trans legislation is not just a legal issue, but a public health crisis for transgender and nonbinary youth. While the study acknowledges that the exact causal relationship between legislation and mental health outcomes is complex, it points to a clear connection between these laws and the broader societal rejection that trans and nonbinary youth experience as a result.
A Rising Threat: Anti-Trans Legislation
Anti-transgender laws in the United States have seen an unprecedented surge. According to the Trans Legislation Tracker, a staggering 658 anti-trans bills were introduced in 2024 alone, more than triple the number introduced the previous year. These laws often target the most vulnerable: transgender minors. Whether by limiting access to gender-affirming healthcare, restricting participation in sports that align with a person’s gender identity, or banning access to bathrooms, these laws place barriers on the everyday lives of transgender and nonbinary youth.
The study analyzed data from 61,240 respondents between the ages of 13 and 24, focusing on those who identified as transgender or nonbinary. By comparing responses across states, the researchers found that suicide attempts were significantly higher in states where these laws had been enacted. “We knew if we were able to show this, it would be a breakthrough for using definitive scientific evidence to support calls for protective and affirming policies for trans and nonbinary young people and to help, ultimately, save their lives,” said Dr. Ronita Nath, vice president of research at The Trevor Project, which spearheaded the study.
Impacts on Mental Health and Identity
One of the most significant findings of the study is that the increase in suicide attempts does not occur immediately after the introduction of a bill. Instead, the actual passage of such laws into state legislation appears to be the trigger. Dr. Nath explains that anti-trans laws likely signal a “broader societal rejection” of transgender identities, which can exacerbate feelings of isolation, rejection, and hopelessness in young people.
In the U.S., suicide is one of the leading causes of death among all teenagers, but trans and nonbinary teens are especially vulnerable. Various studies have shown that transgender youth have higher rates of suicide attempts compared to their cisgender peers, a gap that widens when they are exposed to environments that are hostile or unsupportive of their identities. Laws restricting access to gender-affirming healthcare, sports participation, and gender-appropriate bathrooms not only add logistical barriers but also intensify feelings of rejection.
As Dr. Nath highlights, these legal restrictions “may lead to experiences of rejection, social isolation, bullying,” which are major contributors to suicidal ideation. The new study, therefore, serves as critical evidence of the need for laws that affirm and protect LGBTQ+ youth rather than stigmatize them.
The Effect of Gender-Affirming Care
Gender-affirming healthcare has been shown to dramatically improve mental health outcomes for transgender and nonbinary people, including a reduction in suicide attempts. Studies consistently show that access to such care leads to lower rates of depression, anxiety, and suicidality. Despite this, many states have targeted gender-affirming healthcare with legislation that either restricts or outright bans minors from receiving it.
South Carolina, for instance, became the 25th state to restrict gender-affirming healthcare for minors in 2023. In Tennessee, the legality of similar state laws banning care for transgender minors is currently being reviewed by the U.S. Supreme Court, in the high-profile U.S. vs. Skrmetti case.
Experts emphasize that denying gender-affirming healthcare to minors has severe consequences. As the study’s authors note, “Laws that restrict access to medically necessary evidence-based care significantly undercut the hope [trans youth] have as a young person in the future.” This is particularly true for adolescents, who are at a critical developmental stage and often rely on affirming care to align their physical appearance with their gender identity.
Another typical legal restriction that causes distress is the inability to update gender markers on identification. This further marginalizes these young people by causing higher rates of discrimination and harassment in regular situations like voting or traveling.
Politics and Policy: A Deadly Combination
The surge in anti-trans bills has also created a toxic political environment for LGBTQ+ youth, one that many describe as dehumanizing. According to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), 530 anti-LGBTQ bills were introduced in 2023, with a particular focus on trans youth. These bills ranged from mandating that schools report trans students to their parents without consent, to prohibiting trans students from using bathrooms that align with their gender identity, and barring their participation in sports.
The politicization of transgender rights has taken a measurable toll on mental health. Two-thirds of LGBTQ youth reported worsening mental health as a direct result of anti-LGBTQ laws, according to a 2022 survey by The Trevor Project. In May 2024, The Trevor Project released another survey in which 90% of LGBTQ youth said politics negatively impacted their well-being.
Jaymes Black, the CEO of The Trevor Project, expressed deep concern about the direction these laws are heading. “It is without question that 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,” Black said. He urged politicians and the public alike to understand that “transgender and nonbinary young people are our family, our friends, and our neighbors. They deserve dignity, respect, and the ability to lead healthy and full lives.”
What Can Be Done?
While the findings of the new study are sobering, they also provide a roadmap for how the well-being of transgender and nonbinary youth can be protected. The study’s authors suggest that increasing access to gender-affirming care and enacting protective legislation that acknowledges the dignity of transgender people are key steps in reversing this trend.
Additionally, research indicates that affirming environments—both in terms of policy and social support—play a pivotal role in reducing suicide attempts. In affirming states where laws support LGBTQ+ rights, suicide attempts among transgender youth tend to decrease. These environments offer hope, connection, and validation, which are crucial in preventing suicide among vulnerable populations.
Advocates argue that protecting transgender youth is not a partisan issue but a humanitarian one. With every new law that restricts their rights, thousands of lives are at risk. As Dr. Nath said, “We’re talking about real young people’s lives. Trans people are family members, our friends, our neighbors, and they deserve a lot better than this.”
The findings from this study call for urgent action. As anti-trans laws continue to be introduced, understanding their dire consequences may help guide lawmakers to focus on policies that affirm and protect all young people, regardless of their gender identity.
For those in crisis or experiencing suicidal thoughts, help is available. Contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or reach out to The Trevor Project for LGBTQ+ specific support.
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health challenges or considering suicide, The Trevor Project offers a 24/7 crisis hotline via phone, text, or chat at 1-866-488-7386, or you can text “START” to 678-678. Reaching out for help can make a difference.
The Bottom Line
This pivotal study underscores the importance of not only combating discriminatory policies but also creating environments where transgender and nonbinary youth feel seen, supported, and valued. With nearly 1,200 anti-LGBTQ bills introduced in 2023 and 2024 alone, the stakes have never been higher. Young people who are experiencing mental distress frequently bear the cost of these policies in real life.
As the country moves toward critical elections, the rights and well-being of transgender youth continue to be reduced to political talking points. For those directly impacted, though, the consequences are personal, and the toll is devastating. Now more than ever, it is essential to advocate for policies that protect and uplift transgender and nonbinary youth, ensuring they have the opportunity to lead fulfilling lives.
As this study makes clear, the lives of transgender youth are not merely an academic debate or a political issue—they are a matter of urgent public health. Lawmakers, educators, healthcare providers, and communities must come together to create a society that affirms the identities of all young people, recognizing that doing so may be nothing short of lifesaving.
