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Why Are Depression Rates So High in the LGBTQ+ Community?

  • Brad Brenner PhD
  • Sarah HayesSkelton PhD
  • David Pantalone PhD
  • Lauren Latella PhD
  • Jeffrey Cohen PsyD
  • Colleen A Sloan PhD
  • Oct 1, 2025
  • 2
Why Are Depression Rates So High in the LGBTQ+ Community?

Whether you personally identify as LGBTQ+ or are looking to support a loved one who holds one or more of those identities, you’re likely no stranger to the devastating effects of mental health disorders. People who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer are 1.5 to 2.5 times more likely to battle anxiety or depression during their lifetimes than their straight and gender-conforming peers.

Depression in the LGBTQ+ Community - What the data says

Infographic: Depression in the LGBTQ+ Community: What the Data Says
According to data from The Trevor Project:
1 in 2 have experienced symptoms depression in the past year
4 in 5 have a need for mental health care
Of those, 1 in 2 are unable to afford mental health care
1 in 5 have seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year
1 in 10 have attempted suicide in the past year

Why Are Depression Rates So High Among LGBTQ+ Individuals?

A major part of identifying as LGBTQ+, whether you are “out” about that identity or not, is learning to read every situation to decide how much you can safely be yourself. This behavior doesn’t come from nowhere; it’s an adaptive skill that many people develop, after repeated exposure to prejudice and discrimination, to help them stay safe in a world that sometimes presents unsafe situations.

Being so hyper-aware of the world around you can eventually shape your inner world, too. It can affect the way you perceive yourself, making you feel unworthy, unlovable, or hopeless about the future. This phenomenon, referred to by psychologists as ‘minority stress,’ can have lasting effects on mental health and can become a lifelong risk factor for depression.

This is why it’s so important for members of LGBTQ+ communities to be proactive and seek mental health care if needed. Although finding and affording a qualified therapist isn’t always easy, there are many resources available to connect you with the right services.

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The authors

Brad Brenner, PhD, is a counseling psychologist and Director of the Therapy Group of DC. He co-founded the Therapy Group of Charlotte, WithTherapy, and The Capital Therapy Project, a community-based psychotherapy training institute. Dr. Brenner has been recognized by the American Psychological Association for outstanding achievements in Counseling Psychology.
Sarah Hayes-Skelton, PhD is an associate professor in the psychology department at the University of Massachusetts Boston where she is currently the director of clinical training for the Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program. Within this role, Dr. Hayes-Skelton mentors students within this scientist-practitioner-activist focused doctoral program. Dr. Hayes-Skelton completed a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln in 2007. Her primary research examines the mechanisms and processes responsible for change in psychotherapy for anxiety disorders with a particular commitment to enhancing the cultural-sensitivity of these treatments. She is also a licensed psychologist in Massachusetts.
David Pantalone, PhD, is Professor of Psychology and Associate Dean of the College of Liberal Arts at the University of Massachusetts Boston, as well as an Affiliated Investigator at The Fenway Institute of Fenway Health, the largest sexual and gender minority-focused (SGM) healthcare, education, and research facility in the U.S. He completed his training in public policy at Brown University, and in clinical psychology at the University of Washington. Dr. Pantalone has co-authored more than 150 scientific publications and 200 clinical/research presentations. He is a Fellow of the American Psychological Association and the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies. Dr. Pantalone was one of eight members of the APA Task Force for the 2021 Revision of the Professional Practice Guidelines for Sexual Minority Clients.
Lauren Latella, PhD, is a psychologist at Bellevue Hospital Center’s Child and Adolescent Outpatient Department, clinical assistant professor at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, and private practice clinician in New York City. She holds a PhD in Counseling Psychology from Fordham University, with clinical training completed at Mount Sinai Adolescent Health Center and the Child Mind Institute. Dr. Latella specializes in evidence-based interventions—including CBT, DBT, and Trauma-Focused CBT (TF-CBT)—to evaluate and treat diverse populations of children, adolescents, and young adults experiencing mood, anxiety, personality, and trauma-related disorders.
Dr. Jeff Cohen, PsyD (he/him), is an Associate Professor of Medical Psychology in Psychiatry at Columbia University, contributing to education, clinical care, and research with a focus on the mental health of LGBTQ+ youth. He teaches Abnormal Behavior and advanced clinical psychology courses to undergraduates, and instructs in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for psychiatry residents in the Department of Psychiatry. Dr. Cohen specializes in treating OCD and anxiety, as well as providing gender-affirming care, at the Columbus Circle and Westchester locations of Columbia Doctors Psychiatry.
Colleen A. Sloan, PhD is a clinical psychologist at VA Boston Healthcare System and Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at Boston University School of Medicine. Dr. Sloan is involved both locally and nationally in education, training, and consultation in sexual and gender minority (SGM) health. She has expertise in treatment for trauma-related problems and emotion dysregulation including Prolonged Exposure and Dialectical Behavior Therapy. Her research interests involve SGM health disparities and the utilization and modification of evidence-based psychotherapies, particularly trauma-focused treatments, when working with SGM clients.

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