Youth's Lives Every Day
Project SPARK (Studying Protective And RisK factors) is The Trevor Project’s ongoing longitudinal study following nearly 1,700 LGBTQ+ youth across the United States to understand what shapes their lives and mental health. Unlike most studies that capture experiences at just one point in time, Trevor’s first longitudinal study allows us to see how things change over an extended time period. Two years of data and thousands of shared experiences have helped us build a clearer picture of what young queer people need to thrive.
From September 2023 through March 2026, Project SPARK checked in with LGBTQ+ young people every six months, listening as they grew, changed, faced challenges, found support, and built their lives. Our diverse sample includes young people across race and ethnicity (68% youth of color), sexual orientation, and gender identity (63% identifying as transgender, nonbinary, or gender-questioning). Across two years, one thing has become clear: young people are complicated, and their need for support remains urgent.
There is no single story of LGBTQ+ youth mental health. But our data tells the story of rising anxiety and depression. Both were already high when participants entered the study, and both increased over time. Suicidal ideation remained consistently high, while self-harm and suicide attempts decreased. These findings remind us that progress in one area doesn’t mean the struggle is over.
Our research also shows how experiences can accumulate. More than half of Project SPARK participants reported discrimination based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. For transgender, nonbinary, or gender-questioning (TGNB) participants, gender identity-based discrimination increased over time, as did reports of being threatened with or exposed to conversion therapy.
The broader political climate matters too. Our most recent national survey found that 90% of LGBTQ+ youth said that recent anti-LGBTQ+ policies and debates caused them stress or anxiety, and nearly 8-in-10 said these made them feel unsafe. Young people aren’t navigating these pressures in a vacuum.
Safety and stability matter just as much. Economic insecurity remained a reality for many participants, homelessness increased over the past year, and unmet basic needs remained high. When you’re worrying about where you’ll sleep, whether you can get to school, use a bathroom that aligns with their gender identity, or safely exist in public, those pressures don’t simply disappear. They can follow you from adolescence into adulthood.
“This research affirms what we have long known to be true: creating welcoming and supportive environments for LGBTQ+ youth is a life-saving intervention.”
– Dr. Ronita Nath (she/her), Vice President of Research at The Trevor Project
But that’s not the whole story: protective factors are just as important. Even amid escalating anti-LGBTQ+ stigma and systemic barriers, intentional support can make a life-saving difference. Our reporting found growth in several factors that help young people feel safer and more supported:
- Affirming home environments.
- Gender euphoria.
- Access to hormones for TGNB young people.
- Resources that support gender expression and transition, like clothing, binders, and shapewear.
- Helpful mental health care.
Of course, access doesn’t automatically mean equity. At the two-year follow-up, most Project SPARK participants who wanted mental health care were receiving it, but barriers remained. These included parent or caregiver permission, cost, fear of discussing mental health, fear of not being taken seriously, and concerns that providers would not understand their LGBTQ+ identities.
Care only works when young people can feel safe enough to reach for it. And in a crisis, young people often reach for each other. Friends were the most common source of support during suicidal crises, and helpline use increased among participants with adequate resources. Still, nearly 1-in-3 young people who experienced suicidal thoughts reported seeking help from no one.
That’s a stark reminder that being connected to support and feeling able to ask for help aren’t the same thing.
“Behind every data point in the Project SPARK report is an LGBTQ+ young person navigating a deeply difficult climate in this country.”
– Jaymes Black (they/she/he), CEO of The Trevor Project
So, what do these findings mean? We need to address both the harms that place young people at risk and the supports that help them feel safe. Our data shows a clear relationship between young people’s environments and their mental health. Making the world safer for LGBTQ+ youth means recognizing that risk and protection are connected.
Reducing exposure to stigma, discrimination, conversion therapy, economic insecurity, and gender-based exclusion must go hand in hand with expanding affirming relationships, supportive homes, access to care, and gender-affirming resources. These changes can be critical for improving their mental health and reducing suicide risk.
As Project SPARK continues, we’ll keep listening to LGBTQ+ young people and learning what they need to thrive. Future analyses will explore long-term trends and causal relationships to better understand risk and protective factors and their impact on mental health. Understanding is only the beginning. By turning evidence into action, we can help shape policies and interventions that protect LGBTQ+ young people’s mental health and well-being nationwide. Every young person deserves more than just getting through it. They deserve the chance to thrive.
To view the complete report, visit https://www.thetrevorproject.org/project-spark-two-year-report-a-longitudinal-study.
