Bullying and comorbid psychological distress, self-harm and attempted suicide in adolescents – Health inequalities by sexual identity
Bullying haunts LGBTQ+ teens, fueling mental health crises. New study finds sexual minority youth face 6-9x higher risk of comorbid distress, self-harm, and suicide attempts - a devastating toll that worsens with prior bullying.
This nationally representative study of 9,767 17-year-olds examined the link between sexual identity and comorbid mental health issues, including psychological distress, self-harm, and suicide attempts. Bisexual and gay/lesbian adolescents had 6-9 times higher risk of these co-occurring conditions compared to heterosexual peers. Crucially, sexual minority youth with past bullying experiences were even more likely to report mental health comorbidities. These findings underscore the urgent need to address bullying and provide tailored support for LGBTQ+ youth to mitigate these devastating health disparities.