Research has consistently linked the discredited practice of conversion therapy to increased suicide risk among LGBTQ youth.
January 18, 2023 — The Trevor Project, the world’s leading suicide prevention organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer & questioning (LGBTQ) young people, condemned the suspension of a rule prohibiting the practice of “conversion therapy” across the state of Wisconsin that was voted on last week by the state legislature’s Joint Committee for Review of Administrative Rules.
“It is heartbreaking to see lawmakers strip young people across the state of Wisconsin of vital protections from the dangerous and discredited practice of conversion therapy,” said Troy Stevenson (he/him pronouns), Senior Advocacy Campaign Manager at The Trevor Project. “The Trevor Project’s research has found that LGBTQ youth who reported undergoing conversion therapy were significantly more likely to report having attempting suicide in the past year. All young people deserve to be loved and respected for who they are, not subjected to harmful efforts that aim to change their sexual orientation or gender identity. We urge lawmakers to listen to the major medical associations that widely oppose conversion therapy and prioritize efforts to support all of Wisconsin’s young people.”
According to The Trevor Project’s 2022 U.S. National Survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health by State, 44% of LGBTQ youth in Wisconsin seriously considered suicide in the past year, 15% attempted suicide in the past year, and 15% reported being threatened with or subjected to conversion therapy.
A peer-reviewed study by The Trevor Project’s researchers found that LGBTQ youth who underwent conversion therapy were more than twice as likely to report having attempted suicide and more than 2.5 times as likely to report multiple suicide attempts in the past year. Further, a peer-reviewed study published in JAMA Pediatrics found the practice of conversion therapy on LGBTQ youth, and its associated harms – such as substance abuse and negative mental health outcomes, including depression, anxiety, and suicide attempts – cost the U.S. an estimated $9.23 billion, annually.
Conversion therapy is widely opposed by prominent professional medical associations, including the American Medical Association, the American Psychological Association, and the American Academy of Pediatrics. For journalists looking to learn more about how to cover the issue of conversion therapy, here is a guide on best practices.
If you or someone you know needs help or support, The Trevor Project’s trained crisis counselors are available 24/7 at 1-866-488-7386, via chat at TheTrevorProject.org/Get-Help, or by texting START to 678678.
