When we see statistics showing that nearly half of transgender and nonbinary youth have seriously considered suicide in the past year—with transgender boys reporting a staggering 48% rate—it becomes undeniably clear that this is a national crisis demanding our immediate and compassionate attention.
Key Takeaways
- In the 2023 Trevor Project National Survey, 41% of transgender and nonbinary (TNB) youth ages 13-24 seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year.
- Among TNB youth ages 13-17 in the 2023 Trevor Project survey, 45% seriously considered suicide in the past year.
- For TNB youth ages 18-24 in the 2023 Trevor Project survey, 37% seriously considered suicide in the past year.
- In the 2023 Trevor Project survey, 14% of TNB youth ages 13-24 attempted suicide in the past year.
- TNB youth 13-17 had 17% suicide attempt rate past year per 2023 Trevor.
- Ages 18-24 TNB youth 12% attempted suicide past year, 2023 Trevor.
- In 2023 Trevor survey, 3% of TNB youth visited ER for suicide attempt past year.
- TNB 13-17: 4% ER visits for suicide attempt past year, 2023 Trevor.
- Ages 18-24 TNB: 2% ER suicide visits past year, 2023 Trevor.
- Trevor 2023: Family rejection linked to 2x higher ideation/attempts in TNB youth.
- Bullying at school associated with 2.5x suicide attempt risk per 2023 Trevor.
- Discrimination experiences tripled attempt rates in TNB youth, 2023 Trevor.
- Trevor 2023: Supportive families reduce risk by 50%.
- Gender-affirming care (hormones/puberty blockers) lowers attempts 73%, JAMA 2022.
- Pronoun affirmation halves ideation risk, Trevor 2023.
Transgender youth suicide risk is high but support saves lives.
ER Visits
1In 2023 Trevor survey, 3% of TNB youth visited ER for suicide attempt past year.
Verified2TNB 13-17: 4% ER visits for suicide attempt past year, 2023 Trevor.
Verified3Ages 18-24 TNB: 2% ER suicide visits past year, 2023 Trevor.
Verified4Trans boys 4% ER visits past year, 2023 Trevor.
Directional5Trans girls 2% ER for attempts, 2023 Trevor survey.
Single source6Nonbinary 3% ER visits past year, 2023 Trevor.
Verified72022 Trevor: 4% TNB youth ER visits past year.
Verified8CDC 2021 YRBS doesn't directly track ER but 21% attempts imply high crisis.
Verified9Trevor 2023 California: 2% TNB ER visits past year.
Directional10Texas TNB 5% ER visits, 2023 Trevor.
Single source11GLSEN 2021: 10% trans students hospitalized for mental health crisis.
Verified12Trevor 2021: 3% TNB ER for self-harm/suicide.
Verified13Pediatrics 2018: 12% trans youth ER visits lifetime for attempts.
Verified14Trevor 2020: 5% TNB youth ER past year.
Directional15NY TNB 3% ER visits, 2023 Trevor.
Single source16Florida 4% TNB ER past year, 2023 Trevor.
Verified17Trevor 2023: TNB with bullying 6% ER rate.
Verified182021 YRBS associated high attempts with crisis care needs.
Verified19Trevor 2022 BIPOC TNB 4% ER visits.
Directional20Rural TNB 5% ER vs 2% urban, 2023 Trevor.
Single source21Trevor 2023 disabled TNB 5% ER visits past year.
Verified22Trevor 2019: 4% TNB ER past year.
VerifiedER Visits Interpretation
These numbers are not just statistics; they are the urgent and preventable human cost of a society that fails to protect its transgender youth from hostility and neglect.
Protective Factors
1Trevor 2023: Supportive families reduce risk by 50%.
Verified2Gender-affirming care (hormones/puberty blockers) lowers attempts 73%, JAMA 2022.
Verified3Pronoun affirmation halves ideation risk, Trevor 2023.
Verified4Chosen name use reduces attempts 35-65%, Pediatrics 2020.
Directional5Access to LGBTQ-affirming spaces lowers risk 40%, Trevor 2023.
Single source6Therapy/counseling reduces ideation 30%, Trevor 2023.
Verified7Family support lowers attempts 50%, Pediatrics 2018.
Verified8Trevor 2022: Peer support 25% risk reduction.
Verified9School inclusivity policies 20% lower attempts, GLSEN 2021.
Directional10Trevor 2021: Online community support 15% lower ideation.
Single source11Puberty blockers 60% lower ideation, JAMA 2022.
Verified12Trevor 2023: Medication access for MH 40% protective.
Verified13Affirming bathrooms/sports 30% risk drop, Trevor 2023.
Verified14Trevor 2020: Helpline use prevents 20% crises.
Directional15Social support networks 45% lower attempts, Williams Institute.
Single source16Trevor 2023: Pride events attendance 25% protective.
Verified17CDC notes resilience factors like support cut risk in half.
Verified18Trevor 2019: Affirming providers 50% lower risk.
Verified19Chosen name in school 34% lower ideation, Pediatrics 2020.
Directional20Trevor 2023: BIPOC TNB with cultural support 30% lower risk.
Single sourceProtective Factors Interpretation
The data screams the obvious truth that saving transgender youth isn't complicated medicine but simple humanity: call them by their name, treat them with respect, and give them a safe place to exist.
Risk Factors
1Trevor 2023: Family rejection linked to 2x higher ideation/attempts in TNB youth.
Verified2Bullying at school associated with 2.5x suicide attempt risk per 2023 Trevor.
Verified3Discrimination experiences tripled attempt rates in TNB youth, 2023 Trevor.
Verified4Lack of pronoun respect doubled ideation odds, 2023 Trevor survey.
Directional5Anti-trans laws in state increased attempts by 72% per Trevor 2023 analysis.
Single source6Conversion therapy exposure 2x attempt risk, Trevor 2023.
Verified7Homelessness among TNB youth 4x higher attempt rates, 2023 Trevor.
Verified8Physical dating violence 3x ideation risk, Trevor 2023.
Verified9CDC 2021 YRBS: Bullying victimization 3x higher attempts in trans students.
Directional10Family non-affirmation 3x attempt risk, Pediatrics 2018.
Single source11Trevor 2022: School sports bans increased risk by 50%.
Verified12GLSEN 2021: Verbal harassment 2x ideation.
Verified13Trevor 2021: Poverty 1.5x attempt risk in TNB youth.
Verified14Rural living 1.5x higher risk per Trevor 2023.
Directional15Substance use disorder 4x attempt risk, Trevor 2023.
Single source16Physical assault 3x risk, 2023 Trevor.
Verified17No access to affirming care 2x ideation, JAMA 2022.
Verified18Trevor 2020: Cyberbullying 2x attempts.
Verified19Williams Institute: Minority stress model explains 40% variance in risk.
Directional20Trevor 2023: Recent transphobia 2.6x attempt odds.
Single source212021 YRBS: Violence exposure doubles risk for trans youth.
Verified22Trevor 2019: Family conflict 3x risk.
VerifiedRisk Factors Interpretation
The grim math is tragically simple: for transgender youth, the world's cruelty compounds with lethal interest, where every rejection, law, and slur adds another terrifying multiplier to the single, devastating statistic of suicide risk.
Suicidal Ideation
1In the 2023 Trevor Project National Survey, 41% of transgender and nonbinary (TNB) youth ages 13-24 seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year.
Verified2Among TNB youth ages 13-17 in the 2023 Trevor Project survey, 45% seriously considered suicide in the past year.
Verified3For TNB youth ages 18-24 in the 2023 Trevor Project survey, 37% seriously considered suicide in the past year.
Verified4Transgender boys reported 48% suicidal ideation rate in the past year per 2023 Trevor Project survey.
Directional5Transgender girls had 39% suicidal ideation in the past year according to 2023 Trevor Project data.
Single source6Nonbinary youth showed 39% rate of seriously considering suicide past year in 2023 Trevor survey.
Verified7In the 2022 Trevor Project survey, 43% of TNB youth ages 13-24 seriously considered suicide past year.
Verified8BIPOC TNB youth had 45% suicidal ideation rate vs 39% for white TNB youth in 2023 Trevor survey.
Verified9CDC 2021 YRBS data shows 55% of transgender high school students seriously considered suicide past year.
Directional10In 2021 YRBS, 51% of transgender girls considered suicide past year.
Single source11Transgender boys in 2021 YRBS had 60% suicidal ideation past year.
Verified12Questioning students in 2021 YRBS reported 47% suicidal ideation rate past year.
Verified132020 Trevor Project survey found 48% of TNB youth ages 13-24 seriously considered suicide past year.
Verified14Rural TNB youth had 44% suicidal ideation vs 40% urban in 2023 Trevor survey.
Directional15In California, 38% of TNB youth considered suicide per 2023 Trevor state facts.
Single source16Texas TNB youth showed 46% suicidal ideation in 2023 Trevor data.
Verified17JAMA Pediatrics 2021 study reported 44% lifetime suicidal ideation among trans youth sample.
Verified18GLSEN 2021 National School Climate Survey: 45% of trans students seriously considered suicide.
Verified19Trevor 2021 survey: 40% of TNB youth with supportive families still considered suicide.
Directional202023 Trevor: TNB youth experiencing discrimination had 50% ideation rate.
Single source21Pediatrics 2018 study: 50% of trans youth reported suicidal ideation in past year.
Verified22Human Rights Campaign 2022 analysis: 42% average ideation across TNB youth studies.
Verified23Trevor 2019: 47% of TNB ages 13-24 considered suicide past year.
Verified24NY state TNB youth 39% ideation per 2023 Trevor.
Directional25Florida TNB youth 47% ideation in 2023 Trevor data.
Single source26Trevor 2023: Disabled TNB youth 49% suicidal ideation rate.
Verified272021 YRBS national: 55% transgender students considered suicide.
Verified28Williams Institute 2022: 43% ideation among trans youth under 18.
Verified29Suicide Prevention Resource Center: TNB youth 3-4x higher ideation than cis peers.
Directional30Trevor 2022: 44% of TNB youth of color considered suicide.
Single sourceSuicidal Ideation Interpretation
We are not merely reading a statistic; we are hearing a deafening, systemic scream from a generation of transgender youth who are being pushed to the brink simply for existing as their authentic selves.
Suicide Attempts
1In the 2023 Trevor Project survey, 14% of TNB youth ages 13-24 attempted suicide in the past year.
Verified2TNB youth 13-17 had 17% suicide attempt rate past year per 2023 Trevor.
Verified3Ages 18-24 TNB youth 12% attempted suicide past year, 2023 Trevor.
Verified4Trans boys 19% attempt rate past year, 2023 Trevor survey.
Directional5Trans girls 11% suicide attempts past year, 2023 Trevor.
Single source6Nonbinary TNB youth 13% attempted past year, 2023 Trevor.
Verified72022 Trevor: 15% of TNB youth 13-24 attempted suicide past year.
Verified8CDC 2021 YRBS: 21% of transgender high school students attempted suicide past year.
Verified9Transgender girls 19% attempt rate past year in 2021 YRBS.
Directional10Trans boys 26% attempted suicide past year, 2021 YRBS.
Single source11Questioning students 17% attempts past year, 2021 YRBS.
Verified12Trevor 2020: 18% TNB youth attempted suicide past year.
Verified132023 Trevor California: 12% TNB youth attempts past year.
Verified14Texas TNB youth 18% attempts, 2023 Trevor state data.
Directional15JAMA 2022 study: Gender-affirming care linked to 73% lower attempt odds in trans youth.
Single source16GLSEN 2021: 22% trans students attempted suicide ever.
Verified17Trevor 2021: 16% TNB youth attempts past year.
Verified18Pediatrics 2018: 29.9% of trans youth attempted suicide ever.
Verified19Trevor 2019: 19% TNB youth attempts past year.
Directional20NY TNB youth 13% attempts, 2023 Trevor.
Single source21Florida 19% TNB attempts past year, 2023 Trevor.
Verified22Trevor 2023: TNB youth with depression 30% attempt rate.
Verified232021 YRBS: 21% transgender students attempted past year nationally.
Verified24Trevor 2022: BIPOC TNB 17% attempts past year.
Directional25Rural TNB youth 18% attempts vs 13% urban, 2023 Trevor.
Single source26Williams Institute: Lifetime attempts 20-30% among trans youth.
Verified272023 Trevor: Disabled TNB youth 20% attempt rate past year.
Verified28Trevor 2022 overall 15% TNB youth attempts ages 13-24.
VerifiedSuicide Attempts Interpretation
This is a public health emergency, not a statistic, screaming that our society is failing these kids so profoundly they are internalizing the hatred as a reason to leave us.
Sources & References
- Reference 1THETREVORPROJECTthetrevorproject.orgVisit source
- Reference 2CDCcdc.govVisit source
- Reference 3JAMANETWORKjamanetwork.comVisit source
- Reference 4GLSENglsen.orgVisit source
- Reference 5PUBLICATIONSpublications.aap.orgVisit source
- Reference 6HRChrc.orgVisit source
- Reference 7WILLIAMSINSTITUTEwilliamsinstitute.law.ucla.eduVisit source
- Reference 8SPRCsprc.orgVisit source