Psychological Distress and Suicidality Among Transgender Young Adults in the United States

June 2024

Transgender young adults experience adverse mental health outcomes. Using data from the 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey and guided by minority stress frameworks, this report examines the prevalence of psychological distress and suicidality among transgender young adults of different social identities. It appeared in the Journal of Adolescent Health in June 2024.

AUTHORS

Yu-Chi Wang
Research Fellow, Boston Children's Hospital
Tabor Hoatson
Research Analyst, Harvard Medical School
Catherine Stamoulis
Associate Professor, Harvard Medical School
Jody L. Herman
Senior Scholar of Public Policy
Sari L. Reisner
Assistant Professor, Harvard Medical School
Ilan H. Meyer
Distinguished Senior Scholar of Public Policy
Sabra L. Katz-Wise
Associate Professor, Harvard Medical School

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Highlights

Transgender young adults AMAB were more likely to have distress and suicidal thoughts than those AFAB.

Latinx transgender young adults were more likely than white transgender young adults to experience distress.

Bisexual/pansexual transgender young adults were more likely to have a suicide plan compared to their heterosexual counterparts.

Data Points

53%

of transgender young adults meet the criteria for serious psychological distress

66%

of transgender young adults have thought about suicide

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