A new study conducted by a team of researchers at Trinity College Dublin in coordination with Belong To reports that mental health and wellbeing has significantly declined amongst the LGBTQ+ population of Ireland since 2016.

The research project entitled, Being LGBTQI+ in Ireland, had a dual focus of examining the mental health and wellbeing of LGBTQ+ people in the country as well as investigating public attitudes towards LGBTQ+ people.

The research consisted of two modules, one of which surveyed 2,800 participants across Ireland identifying as LGBTQ+ about their mental health and wellbeing as well as issues of safety, discrimination, media, school and healthcare. The second module focused on assessing public attitudes towards LGBTQ+ people and surveyed 2,000 people.

Since the organisation’s landmark LGBTIreland report in 2016, researchers found that mental health and wellbeing have declined amongst the LGBTQ+ population. 

Key findings of the new report indicated “significant challenges” for young people under the age of 25 and trans and gender non-conforming (TGNC) individuals.

Significantly, since the 2016 LGBTIreland study, there has been a 17% increase in symptoms of severe or extremely severe symptoms of depression and a 30% increase in symptoms of severe or extremely severe symptoms of anxiety.

For all members of the LGBTQ+ community, 27% had experienced severe or extremely severe symptoms of depression, and 34% experienced severe or extremely severe symptoms of anxiety. Furthermore, the findings showed that 52% had self-harmed and 64% had reported suicidal thoughts, with 26% of participants having made a suicide attempt.

Notably, those figures were higher again for the TGNC participants, with 44% experiencing severe or extremely severe symptoms of depression, 55% experiencing severe or extremely severe symptoms of anxiety, 75% having self-harmed, 82% reporting suicidal thoughts and 39% having made a suicide attempt.

Alarmingly, 14 was the average age of a first attempt at self-harm, and 15 was the average age of a first suicide attempt amongst all participants, Belong To reports.

Around half of the participants who had self-harmed or attempted suicide said that it was related to their LGBTQ+ identity, with 60% seeking medical help for mental health in the past five years.

Two-fifths (41%) of participants reached the threshold for potentially having an eating disorder, this was even higher at 50% among TGNC participants.

Contributing factors towards mental health challenges included internal stressors, (self-hatred, gender dysphoria, shame and confusion around identity) as well as external factors, (family and social rejection, negative media, bullying and discrimination, and negative attitudes from society). 

Belong To reports that the impact of Covid-19 and the pandemic on the mental health of participants was notable, with 48% saying their mental health worsened, and 18% saying their mental health improved.

 

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Participants were also asked about feelings of safety in society. Findings showed that 72% experienced verbal abuse due to being LGBTQ+, 51% reported feeling unsafe showing affection with a same-sex partner in public, 1 in 4 have been punched, hit or physically attacked due to being LGBTQ+ and 1 in 6 have experienced sexual violence due to being LGBTQ+.

Many participants reported negative experiences in school, with 31% reporting a feeling of “not belonging at all” in school and around one-half of participants (49%) reported being subjected to homophobic, biphobic or transphobic bullying. 

Professor in Mental Health at Trinity College Dublin and lead researcher Agnes Higgins commented, “Bullying not only negatively impacted on young people’s desire to leave school early, but those who experienced LGBTQ+ related bullying in school, had poorer well-being and mental health outcomes in comparison to those who had not experienced LGBTQ+ related bullying.”

While 79% of participants reported witnessing homophobic, biphobic or transphobic bullying in school, 62% reported that LGBTQ+ bullying was not actively addressed within their school. Around a third (32%) of students thought about leaving school due to negative treatment related to being LGBTQ+.

The research further found that TGNC individuals have worse mental health outcomes when compared to their cisgender peers. 

Reduced access to gender-affirming healthcare is for many a contributing factor to declining mental health, with only 69% of those who had/were medically transitioning having to use healthcare services outside of Ireland due to the length of waiting time, lack of GP knowledge and geographic distance of the healthcare in Ireland.

In a similar pattern, Belong To reports TGNC participants have poorer experiences in school: they are two times more likely to feel they do not belong and 1.5 times as likely to experience anti-LGBTQ+ bullying, compared to cisgender peers.

The report commented on the need for increased support in schools for TGNC students, “Trans and gender non-conforming students often need additional support when they come out in school. This includes access to safe spaces and facilities, being referred to by the correct name and pronouns and the opportunity to wear clothing that aligns with their gender identity.”

When asked how school experiences could be improved, participants suggested a combination of increased support for LGBTQ+ students, education on LGBTQ+-related topics for staff and students, raising visibility and removing religious influence from schools.

On a positive note, module two, which investigated attitudes towards the LGBTQ+ community from members of the public, indicated greater acceptance of LGBTQ+ people among the general Irish population. 

Four-fifths (84%) would be comfortable if their son/daughter was lesbian, gay or bisexual and 7 in 10 (69%) people would be comfortable if their child was transgender.

However, Belong To reports the general public’s reported knowledge of LGBTQ+ experiences was generally low, with reported knowledge of bisexual (31%), transgender (18%), and intersex experiences (7%) being the lowest.

Delighted to attend the launch of Belong To & @tcddublin ’s Being LGBTQI+ in Ireland – an extremely insightful national report on the mental health and wellbeing of the LGBTQ+ community in Ireland. Well done to everyone involved pic.twitter.com/uqdDMJtHLe

— Gay Community News (@GCNmag) April 25, 2024

Professor Higgins notes that the report did find some other positive outcomes, with “many expressing pride in their LGBTQI+ identity, as well as celebrating the connection, solidarity and sense of belonging that being engaged in LGBTQI+ culture and politics engenders.”

She continues, “Importantly, a positive shift in public attitudes since 2016 was also evident, although less favourable attitudes towards transgender and intersex communities was apparent.”

Belong To CEO Moninne Griffith commented that since 2016, Irish society has slipped into “a sense of complacency” regarding LGBTQ+ rights in Ireland. She suggests that since marriage equality has been achieved, this has led to a false perception that, “the struggles of LGBTQI+ people have disappeared.”

Griffith comments that the findings of the report were “disheartening and upsetting,” but “unfortunately they are not surprising,” for the LGBTQ+ community.

She continues, “These upsetting findings should serve as a rallying cry to the Government, policymakers and allies to work with us to end anti-LGBTQI+ stigma and discrimination, and create a society where the LGBTQI+ community can feel safe and supported.”

You can read the full report from Belong To and Trinity College Dublin on the mental health of LGBTQ+ people in Ireland here.

If you have been affected by this story or are are looking to reach out to someone for support or advice or just to talk, there are numerous services available for LGBTQ+ people, listed below, and many offer instant messaging support.

Samaritans
National LGBT+ Helpline
The Switchboard
Dublin Lesbian Line
Belong To
TENI
Aware
Pieta House
Jigsaw
Mental Health Ireland
Garda Confidential Line