Results: Changes in Mental Health Outcomes Over Time

At baseline, 57% of participants reported recent symptoms of anxiety, and one year later, this increased to 68%. Similarly, 48% of participants reported recent symptoms of depression at baseline, and one year later, this increased to 54%. Increases in suicidal ideation were also observed, with 41% of participants reporting suicidal ideation at baseline and 47% one year later. At the start of the study, over one in ten (11%) participants reported having attempted suicide in the past year; during the subsequent year, 7% of participants reported a suicide attempt.

Demographic Differences in Outcomes

Anxiety: Participants ages 13-17 at baseline were more likely to report recent symptoms of anxiety (61%) than those 18-24 (53%). White participants were more likely to report recent symptoms of anxiety (63%) than young people of color (54%). There were significant differences by sexual orientation as well, with 44% of gay or lesbian participants reporting recent symptoms of anxiety, compared to 61% of bisexual, 66% of pansexual, and 73% of queer respondents. TGNB participants were more likely to report recent symptoms of anxiety (70%) than cisgender participants (42%).

Depression: Participants ages 13-17 at baseline were more likely to report recent symptoms of depression (52%) than those ages 18-24 (45%). There were significant differences by sexual orientation: 37% of gay or lesbian participants reported recent symptoms of depression, compared to 50% of bisexual, 56% of queer, and 60% of pansexual respondents. TGNB participants were more likely to report recent symptoms of depression (58%) than cisgender participants (36%). There were no significant differences in depressive symptoms by race/ethnicity.

Suicidal ideation: Participants ages 13-17 at baseline were more likely to report suicidal ideation (49%) than those ages 18-24 (37%). Gay and lesbian participants reported the lowest rates of suicidal ideation (31%) compared to 46% of bisexual, 49% of queer, and 50% of pansexual respondents. TGNB participants were more likely to have suicidal ideation (53%) than cisgender participants (28%). There were no significant differences in suicidal ideation by race/ethnicity.

Suicide attempts: Participants ages 13-17 at baseline were more likely to report a suicide attempt in the past year (16%) than those ages 18-24 (8%). In terms of sexual orientation, gay and lesbian participants reported the lowest rates of attempting suicide in the past year (7%) compared to 13% of bisexual, 15% of queer, and 16% of pansexual respondents. TGNB participants were more likely to have attempted suicide in the past year (16%) than cisgender participants (6%). There were no significant differences in suicide attempts by race/ethnicity.

Most of these associations persisted a year later, with a few notable exceptions. One year later, baseline age was no longer associated with differences in recent depressive symptoms. Race/ethnicity, which showed no association with recent depressive symptoms or suicidal ideation at baseline, became associated with these outcomes one year later: 59% of White participants reported recent symptoms of depression compared to 50% of participants of color, and 53% of White participants reported suicidal ideation compared to 44% of young people of color. Although rates for depression and suicidal ideation increased for all participants regardless of race/ethnicity over the past year, this increase was greater for White participants.