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Our New Report on LGBTQI Youth Mental Health in Europe Reveals High Levels of Depression and Anxiety
Launched as part of the 2026 European Mental Health Week, IGLYO — The International LGBTQI Youth and Student Organisation’s new report reveals alarming levels of anxiety and depression among LGBTQI young people across the European region. Their groundbreaking study calls for immediate legislative action, improved healthcare access, and a fundamental shift in how schools and families support LGBTQI youth.
Our brand new IGLYO report “LGBTQI Youth Mental Health in the Spotlight” addresses the lack of comprehensive data on the health, and particularly the mental health, of LGBTQI young people across the European region. It dives into the roots of their mental health challenges and offers an opportunity for their voices and lived experiences to shape policy and decision making.
Based on data from more than 1,500 LGBTQI young people aged 14-30 across 35 countries in the European region collected through an online survey available in seven languages, our findings aim to guide engagement with European and national authorities responsible for supporting LGBTQI youth and advancing their mental health.
With a focus on trans and intersex youth but also on the impact of intersectional marginalisations, the report hightlights vital recommendations to shape legislation, improve healthcare systems, and guide schools on how to better support LGBTQI young people’s mental health.
Alarming rates of depression and anxiety
Our report raises the alarm on the mental health of LGBTQI youth across Europe, with over one in three respondents reporting symptoms of depression (37,5%) and anxiety (33,9%).
Our research further reveals how various factors of marginalisation intersect with LGBTQI young people’s mental health, with LGBTQI youth experiencing intersecting forms of marginalisation — including racialisation, migration, legal status, religion, socio-economic disadvantage, and housing insecurity — reporting higher instances of symptoms of depression and anxiety.
Location also has a serious impact: LGBTQI youth in rural areas report significantly higher levels of anxiety (40.6%) compared to those in urban areas (31.6%). A similar trend is observed for depression: 44.5% of those living in rural areas reported symptoms, compared to 37.5% in urban settings.
I felt like an alien until I was 18, without any representation in my town, no organisation to socialise in or to find support. Literally alone. — Survey respondent.
Our research also confirms higher rates of challenges faced by trans and intersex youth: 18% of trans respondents were diagnosed with an anxiety disorder in the past year compared to their cisgender peers (10.5%), with a higher incidence of anxiety and depression symptoms for those who reported facing barriers to changing their name.
In Ukraine, trans people are considered to be mentally ill, officially limiting their ability to be regular citizens. [...] This creates a lot of anxiety. — Survey respondent.
And among intersex youth, rates of depression are significantly higher than for endosex youth, with the impact of non-consensual medical interventions being particularly severe: 70% of those who underwent such procedures reported symptoms of depression, compared to 40.6% of those who did not.
Only 22% of respondents found it easy to access mental health services
Despite the high need, only 22% of respondents found it easy to access mental health services. Key barriers include financial costs, a lack of LGBTQI-specific competence among providers, low confidence in approaching services, the dominance of medication as a treatment method, and limited or unavailable access points, particularly in rural or remote areas.
I haven’t accessed therapy yet, but I’ve wanted to for a long time. I can’t afford it until I get a job [...] — Survey respondent.
Beyond access to care, our research identifies different primary drivers of mental health struggles. A lack of family support negatively impacted 52.8% of respondents, and 57.4% state school environments as harmful to their mental health, with more than one in three (36%) reporting experiencing bullying due to being LGBTQI.
With regard to the policy landscape, the presence or absence of legislation and policies protecting LGBTQI rights has negatively impacted the mental health of 62% of respondents. Additionally, potential bans on discussing LGBTQI content in schools have an overwhelmingly negative impact on 75.8% of respondents. Some harmful practices are also highlighted in our report such as negative discourse about LGBTQI people on social media or the practice of so-called "conversion therapy".
Calling for coordinated action at three levels
To address these challenges, we call for coordinated action at the legislative, healthcare, and educational levels to ensure comprehensive and lasting impact.
At the legislative level, we urge for more research from governments across Europe to understand the extent and nature of ‘conversion therapy’ practices to effectively eliminate them, as well as the co-creation of an EU-level Mental Health Strategy involving consultation with LGBTQI youth and civil society.
To improve access to healthcare, we recommend that states across Europe implement initiatives that make mental health services more affordable for LGBTQI young people. We also advocate for mandatory training on the specific experiences of LGBTQI youth for all mental health support staff. A dedicated focus on mental health support should also be integrated within broader strategies to address rural isolation.
Within education systems, we support the implementation of gender-neutral toilets in schools and the creation of bullying guidelines that include clear, concrete, and explicit strategies to address the bullying of LGBTQI youth and to mitigate potential long-term harm. We also promote mandatory training for teachers to recognise and prevent bullying, and for school healthcare providers to recognise patterns linked to poor mental health.
Across all areas, we emphasise the importance of sharing these findings with relevant stakeholders to raise awareness of the mental health needs of LGBTQI youth and to use the data as a foundation for further research into their lived experiences.
You can download the full report here.
Press enquiries
Jeremy Gobin (He/him)
IGLYO’s Communications & Network Manager
jeremy@iglyo.org
Yleanna Robert (She/her)
IGLYO's Communications & Network Officer
yleanna@iglyo.org
About the Report
"LGBTQI Youth Mental Health in the Spotlight" is the first large-scale study of its kind in the European region. It was commissioned by IGLYO with financial support from the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture & Science and the EU’s Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV) programme. The contents of the report are the sole responsibility of IGLYO and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the Dutch Ministry or the European Commission.
About IGLYO
IGLYO — The International LGBTQI Youth & Student Organisation is the world's largest network dedicated to LGBTQI young people and their rights. We represent the voice of over 135 Member Organisations in more than 40 countries across the European region. We advance the rights of LGBTQI young people, advocate for their equality and inclusion, empower their voices, and connect them across borders through international events, capacity-building training, thematic research, advocacy, awareness-raising campaigns, network building, regranting, and intersectional community dialogues. iglyo.org