Impact of Anti-Transgender Laws on Youth Suicide Rates: New Study Reveals Alarming Trends
A recent study published in Nature Human Behavior reveals a troubling connection between anti-transgender laws and rising suicide attempts among transgender and gender-nonconforming teenagers. The Trevor Project’s peer-reviewed study analyzed data from 19 states and found that suicide attempts among transgender youth increased by up to 72% following the passing of anti-trans laws targeting minors. This comprehensive study provides the first firm evidence of the serious mental health risks posed by such legislation, illustrating how these laws have placed transgender and nonbinary young people at heightened risk.
Over the past few years, numerous states including New Hampshire have enacted laws restricting transgender minors from participating in activities aligned with their gender identity or accessing gender-affirming care. For instance, these laws regulate which sports teams transgender youth can join, the use of school bathrooms, and restrict medical care like transition-related procedures. However, lawmakers supporting these measures have often dismissed claims that such restrictions adversely affect young people's mental health, citing a lack of concrete evidence. But, as the study's author Dr. Nath explains to NPR, “These findings demonstrate that — regardless of a person's political beliefs — if you live in a state that has passed an anti-transgender law, transgender, nonbinary young people in your home state are significantly more likely to attempt to take their own life. This is the reality for these young people, and it’s not acceptable.”
The research, conducted with careful focus on states across the country, collected data from transgender and nonbinary youth, ages 13-24, through targeted social media outreach. By controlling ad reach in larger, more accessible states like California and New York, researchers prioritized gathering data from more rural and politically conservative states, such as Idaho and Wyoming, where youth may face greater social isolation and fewer affirming resources.
In New Hampshire, Gov. Chris Sununu signed two controversial anti-trans measures into law, restricting access to gender-affirming care and sports participation for transgender minors. The healthcare measure, H.B. 619, restricts transition-related surgeries and prevents medical providers from referring patients for these procedures in other states. Additionally, H.B. 1205 requires that students in grades 5-12 participate in sports based on the gender marker on their birth certificates, limiting trans youth from competing on teams that align with their gender identity. Both laws will go into effect next year, adding New Hampshire to the growing list of states enacting such restrictive measures.
As these laws become more widespread, the Trevor Project study has underscored the real-world mental health consequences faced by affected youth. Advocates argue that policymakers must consider these findings when shaping future legislation, especially as awareness grows about the impact of these policies on young people's lives and well-being. This study serves as a powerful reminder that the needs of transgender youth are complex, urgent, and deserving of thoughtful, compassionate consideration.