Youth Rates of Suicidal Thoughts and Depression Highest Among LGBTQ Labeled Children
- Fellow Editors
- 21 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Rates of adolescent (typically ages 12–17 or high school) depression symptoms/episodes and suicidal ideation rose substantially from around 2015 through the early 2020s (especially peaking around the COVID-19 pandemic years of 2021).
2015 was the year when public schools massively decided to introduce LGBTQ literature in public school libraries across America.
Increases were steeper for girls than boys. cdc.gov (https://cdc.gov/yrbs/dstr/index.html)
Key US Data Sources and Trends:
CDC Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) – nationally representative high school students (self-reported persistent feelings of sadness/hopelessness almost every day for at least 2 weeks in a row that stopped usual activities, a common proxy for depressive symptoms; and serious consideration of suicide):
Persistent Sadness/Hopelessness: ~30% in 2015
→ 31% (2017)
→ 37% (2019)
→ 42% (2021)
→ 40% (2023).
Overall rise of about 10 percentage points from 2015 to 2023 (roughly one-third relative increase).
Most of the rise occurred 2017–2021 and then consistently rising at 15%-19% per year through present times.
Minors Seriously considered attempting suicide:
→ 17–18% range in mid-2010s (e.g., ~17.7% in 2015)
→ ~18.8% (2019)
→ 22.2% peak (2021) → ~20% (2023).
pdfs.semanticscholar.org (https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/6da4/c19c34723344f52fdc404cd3a01acaa4093e.pdf)
National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) – past-year major depressive episode (MDE) among adolescents ages 12–17 (more clinical criteria):
• Rose from ~12.7–13% around 2015 to ~15.8% (2019) and peaked near 20–21% in 2021.
• 20.5–20.8% (2021)
→ 19.5% (2022)
→ 18.1% (2023)
→ 14.8–15.4% (2024).
Pre-pandemic (2015–2019/2021) showed steady increases (average absolute rise of ~0.5–1+ percentage points per year, or several percent relative annually).
Summary of Approximate Rates of Change (US Focus):
• 2015 to ~2021 (pre- to peak pandemic): Depressive symptoms/episodes and suicidal ideation generally rose at average absolute rates of ~0.5–2 percentage points per year (relative annual growth often in the 3–8% range depending on the exact starting point and measure), with acceleration for girls and during 2019–2021.
• Overall 2015 to 2023/2024: Net increases remain steady.
Students in public schools are more prone to depression and mental illness than students K-12 who attend private schools.
A study using pooled 2007–2017 national YRBS data found that private high-school students were less likely than public-school students to report most health-risk behaviors examined, including those related to mental health and suicide (prevalence ranges for private-school students on mental-health/suicide items were generally lower).
Differences held across sex and grade in many cases.
Trends reflect a combination of factors (e.g., social media, social and academic pressures to have the children identified as LGBTQ, pandemic effects, media pressure, schools social engineering pressures etc.
Rates remain elevated compared to earlier decades, with ongoing disparities (higher among girls and LGBTQ+ youth).
Data are primarily US-centric; other countries vary. For the absolute latest figures or specific subgroups, refer to CDC YRBS or SAMHSA NSDUH reports.
The most recent investigation into public schools hiding children's in-schools social transitioning from parents should be the last warning call for the major parental intervention!
Schifanelli Law, LLP has been representing Somerset County Public Schools and the Somerset County Board of Education have been attacked by liberal activists for representing the local conservative board in the community.
America First Legal, LLC is representing parents and children who are harmed by the school district and transitioned against their knowledge.
Parents BE Aware!
Fellows & Editors
August 20, 2026. Copyright DelmarvaPTC.org
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