t’s well documented that LGBTQ+ young people are at greater risk of mental health problems and suicidal ideation or attempts than their straight and cisgender peers. Now a new research brief from the Trevor Project shows how economic insecurity correlates with that.

Food insecurity, being unhoused, and being unable to meet basic economic needs were all associated with increased odds of mental health issues, according to the brief, “The Impact of Houselessness and Food Insecurity on the Mental Health of LGBTQ+ Young People,” released Wednesday. It draws on data from the Trevor Project’s 2024 U.S. National Survey on the Mental Health of LGBTQ+ Young People.

“Overall, economic insecurity was associated with worse mental health for LGBTQ+ young people, even after adjusting for age, sexual orientation, gender identity, race/ethnicity, and census region,” the report notes.

Experiencing food insecurity was associated with 69 percent higher odds of experiencing depression, 68 percent higher odds of experiencing anxiety, 60 percent higher odds of having considered suicide in the past year, and 71 percent higher odds of attempting suicide in the past year.

Ever experiencing houselessness was associated with 47 percent higher odds of experiencing depression, 67 percent higher odds of having considered suicide in the past year, and over twice the odds of attempting suicide in the past year.

Being unable to meet basic economic needs was associated with 50 percent higher odds of experiencing depression, 41 percent higher odds of experiencing anxiety, 42 percent higher odds of having considered suicide in the past year, and 52 percent higher odds of attempting suicide in the past year.

Forty percent of LGBTQ+ young people reported a history of food insecurity, houselessness, or unmet basic needs. Transgender and nonbinary youth had 77 percent greater odds of experiencing food insecurity, 73 percent greater odds of ever having been houseless, and 67 percent greater odds of having unmet basic needs compared to cisgender LGB young people.

The high rates of economic insecurity the researchers saw weren’t surprising, says Derrick Matthews, director of research science at the Trevor Project, but their correlation with mental health issues and suicidal ideation or attempts was. “That was pretty alarming to me,” he says.

There’s a common misconception that LGBTQ+ people are better off financially than their cisgender and straight counterparts, but research has shown that’s not true, “and being transgender, a person of color, or bisexual are all factors found to be associated with higher rates of poverty,” according to the report. But this research has often excluded youth, and the chief measure of economic security for adults, income level, doesn’t work with young people, Matthews says. So the staff decided to use the factors of food insecurity, houselessness, and inability to meet economic needs to tell the stories of LGBTQ+ youth. “We looked at stories we didn’t have a chance to tell yet,” he notes.

The 2024 survey reflects data was collected at the end of 2023, and now, with cuts to social programs and LGBTQ+ services by Donald Trump’s administration, plus the economic instability caused by Trump’s back-and-forth on tariffs, the situation may well become worse. “I think it’s concerning, to say the least,” Matthews says. He points out the spikes in calls and texts the Trevor Project saw after Trump’s election and then his inauguration.

“Any reduction in support [for LGBTQ+ youth] at the state or federal level is going to have really scary consequences for a lot of young people out there,” he says.

Also, homophobic and transphobic forces are pushing the narrative that LGBTQ+ identity itself causes mental health problems rather than the true cause, “the way society treats us,” says Matthews, a Black gay man. 

“There is no 13-year-old in the world who’s responsible for these things,” he says. “This is a failure of society and how we structure policy.”

This atmosphere, however, doesn’t negate the need to push for policies that affirm LGBTQ+ people and alleviate economic insecurity, he adds. “The services that we still do have need our investment and support,” he says. And he notes that research has shown that for LGBTQ+ youth, having even one supportive adult in their life can reduce the risk of suicide. “Show up for young people, and advocate for resources to be restored,” he urges. The report points out the beneficial effect of food and nutrition assistance, housing assistance, and basic cash assistance for both young people and adults. Resources for LGBTQ+ youth experiencing homelessness are available here.

“It’s easy to lose hope,” Matthews says, “but I’m a prisoner of hope.”

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 lifeline also provides resources to help with other crises, such as domestic violence situations. 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.