Fact Check: 1 in 5 LGBTQ youth report attempting suicide.

Fact Check: "1 in 5 LGBTQ youth report attempting suicide."

What We Know

Recent data from the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) indicates that approximately 20.4% of high school students reported seriously considering suicide, with 9.5% having attempted suicide in the past year (Verlenden et al., 2024). The survey specifically highlights that LGBTQ youth face a significantly higher risk, with 20% of LGBTQ youth reporting suicide attempts, which aligns with findings from other studies, including those conducted by The Trevor Project, which reported that 18% of LGBTQ youth attempted suicide (Trevor Project, 2023) and that 41% considered it (ABC News, 2023).

Analysis

The claim that "1 in 5 LGBTQ youth report attempting suicide" is supported by multiple credible sources. The CDC's YRBS data is a reliable source as it is a national survey that collects health-related data from high school students across the United States. The findings from this survey show a clear distinction in mental health outcomes between LGBTQ and non-LGBTQ youth, with LGBTQ youth exhibiting higher rates of suicidal ideation and attempts (Verlenden et al., 2024).

Moreover, The Trevor Project's research corroborates these findings, emphasizing the mental health crisis among LGBTQ youth and providing additional context regarding the prevalence of suicide attempts within this demographic (Trevor Project, 2023). The ABC News report further validates this by summarizing the CDC's findings, reinforcing the statistic that 20% of LGBTQ youth have attempted suicide (ABC News, 2023).

While some sources, such as Wikipedia, provide general statistics about LGBTQ youth and suicide, they are not primary research sources and should be viewed with caution. The Trevor Project and CDC reports are peer-reviewed and based on extensive survey data, making them more reliable for this claim.

Conclusion

Verdict: True
The claim that "1 in 5 LGBTQ youth report attempting suicide" is substantiated by credible data from the CDC's Youth Risk Behavior Survey and corroborated by The Trevor Project's findings. The statistics indicate that LGBTQ youth experience significantly higher rates of suicidal thoughts and attempts compared to their peers, making this claim accurate.

Sources

1. Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data Summary & Trends Report
2. Mental Health and Suicide Risk Among High School
3. Association of Gender Identity Acceptance with Fewer ...
4. Suicide among LGBTQ people
5. Facts About Suicide Among LGBTQ+ Young People - The Trevor Project
6. 2023 U.S. National Survey on the Mental Health of LGBTQ+ Young People
7. More than 40% of LGBTQ youth said they considered suicide in the past ...