Study: LGBTQ+ college students face higher mental health risks due to discrimination

A large-scale national study involving nearly 18,000 LGBTQ+ students across 119 colleges and universities in 34 U.S. states has found that campus discrimination significantly increases mental health risks. The research, conducted by Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, Boston University School of Public Health, and the Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, was published in the journal Behavior Medicine.

Findings indicate that one in 10 LGBTQ+ students experienced discrimination on campus within the previous year. Those affected were 84 percent more likely to meet criteria for depression, 87 percent more likely to meet criteria for anxiety, and 78 percent more likely to report suicidal thoughts.

The study also highlighted the severe impact of healthcare-related discrimination. Students who experienced the denial of healthcare or services faced even higher risks, with denial of care associated with a more than 200 percent higher likelihood of suicidal ideation. Researchers noted these findings come during a period of heightened political debate regarding LGBTQ+ rights and legislative efforts to limit transgender protections.