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Impact of Coronavirus Pandemic on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health and Suicide Rates

Teri Karjala • Jun 12, 2020

The novel Coronavirus pandemic forced  a third of the global population  into lockdown, placing LGBTQ youth at exceptional risk of mental health struggles. Though adolescents and young adults are reported to have the lowest mortality rate from Covid-19, they are not immune to its psychological impacts. Indeed, even before everyone was forced to stay home and maintain social distance,  research shows  that LGBTQ youth are at elevated risk for depression, anxiety, substance use, and suicidality.

LGBTQ and in Quarantine

Young people  struggle more with loneliness  than adults due to their acute need for social acceptance and belonging. During a time where we are told to keep physical distance from one another and leave home only when necessary, this vital need for acceptance becomes harder to meet for LGBTQ youth.   

In some cases, the family home may not be as supportive a space for LGBTQ youth. Even still, should they be in a very supportive family and household,  connection to the LGBTQ community , specifically, plays a crucial role in lowering rates of depression and suicide. At a time when social interaction can only happen from a distance, maintaining this connection is difficult. 

Economic Strain

Members of the LGBTQ community suffer economically  more than most.  The Covid-19 pandemic threatens to exacerbate this circumstance by  driving up unemployment  and prompting  housing instability . Both of these circumstances have been  linked  to increasing depression and suicide among LGBTQ youth. 

Fear of the Future

Many young people in the LGBTQ community look to the future with hope, especially in the most trying moments of adolescence. Right now, the future feels less certain, making the present harder to bear. Many youths leave home and their families as a coping mechanism to deal with conflict or maltreatment; likewise, many delay  coming out to their families  until adulthood. The Covid-19 pandemic may feel as if it is halting the LGBTQ youths’ ability to live and embrace their true selves.

Where to Turn?

If you are an LGBTQ person feeling the extra strain of living in quarantine, please know that there are services available and designed with you in mind.  The Trevor Project , for instance, offers a digital  peer support community ,  trained crisis service counselors , and  supportive resources  for LQBTQ youth. The Human Rights Campaign Foundation has, likewise, compiled a  resource page  specifically for LGBTQ youth struggling with the pandemic. 

If the combination of social distancing, quarantine, economic uncertainty, and fear for the future have you worried about your mental health, you are not alone. If your concern is urgent, do not hesitate to request a free phone consultation with a member of our counseling team. We work with people of all ages to address such issues as depression, anxiety, trauma, grief and more. Our office is open to in-person appointments, and we are also offering counseling services remote via Telehealth.

Contact Creative Counseling Center

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teri

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Teri Karjala is a Licensed Professional Counselor & Marriage and Family Therapist. She is the founder and Executive Director of Creative Counseling Center, LLC. Working in the field since 1999, Teri and her team of therapists specializes in counseling for those who have experienced trauma. They work with children as young as age 2, as well as teens and adolescents, adults, seniors, families, and couples.

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