LGBTQIA+ students are much more likely to be affected by a major depressive disorder than their peers, a new study in the US has found. People belonging to sexual and gender minorities were more likely to report suffering from depression than their peers, according to a new US study. The research was based on data from the Healthy Minds Study, a large annual survey looking at mental health among US university students, with responses from more than 480,000 students aged 18 to 35 between 2007 and 2022.
LGBTQIA+ students make up roughly one-fifth of the student population but represent nearly half of those experiencing depression, according to the findings published in This group includes individuals who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex, asexual (LGBTQIA+), non-binary, or gender non-conforming. “This study highlights the critical need for targeted interventions to support the mental health and well-being of young adults during their studies, particularly those who identify as LGBTQIA+,” Dr David Pagliaccio, associate professor at the New York State Psychiatric Institute, said in a statement. “As LGBTQIA+ self-identification rates continue to rise, addressing these disparities becomes increasingly urgent for creating inclusive and supportive academic environments,” he added.
“Students tend to show continued mental health struggles longitudinally over time,” the study found with on average more than one student out of ten r.