Mental Health Outcomes and Self‐Harm Issues Facing LGBTQ+ Students

This study examined rates of mental health outcomes between LGBTQ+ students and their straight/heterosexual and cisgender peers. The participants included undergraduate students (n  = 77,635) from 142 institutions of higher education in the United States who completed the Spring 2024 National College Health Assessment (NCHA). Cross‐tabulations with the Pearson X2 test examined differences between queer (those who identified their sexual orientation as asexual, bisexual, gay, lesbian, pansexual, queer, or questioning) students and their straight/heterosexual peers, and between trans students and their cisgender peers. In every case, LGBTQ+ students reported negative mental health outcomes; problems and challenges with stressors, relationships, and experiences; and the negative impact of these variables on their academic performance at rates significantly higher than their peers. In addition, LGBTQ+ students described the campus climate as less supportive of their mental health and well‐being than their peers. This study documents disparities between LGBTQ+ students and their non‐LGBTQ+ peers. Given that health and well‐being are foundational to college student success, campuses should increase efforts to provide culturally supportive education and services to better support these marginalized communities. The authors offer a number of resources to help improve the campus environment for LGBTQ+ students.