Mental health of young LGBTQ+ people: Trends over time and during the COVID-19 pandemic, causes of mental ill-health, and ways to improve mental health of young LGBTQ+ people

Research problem and specific questionsYoung LGBTQ+ people i.e.

Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals, Transgender and Queer or Questioning persons have high risks for mental health problems but the reasons are unclear. This project will, therefore, focus on mental health of young LGBTQ+ people aged 16-29-years and vulnerable subgroups. Our research questions are:  Have the mental health outcomes of young LGBTQ+ people changed over time (2006-2021)?

How has the COVID-19 pandemic impacted on the mental health of young LGBTQ people?How does the mental health of young LGBTQ+ people evolve as they transition into adulthood and what are the risk and protective factors?Why do bisexuals, transgender persons and persons with gender dysphoria have worse mental health than other LGBTQ+ subgroups i.e. gays and lesbians?What do young LGBTQ+ people think are the causes of mental ill-health among their peers and what support do they need?

What works and is lacking in existing support to young LGBTQ+ people within first line health services and in society?Data and methodThe project has two parts.

Part 1 is quantitative and based on the Stockholm Public Health Cohort (SPHC), a longitudinal (2002-2021) and population-based cohort (N≈140,000) with linked self-reported and registry data.

The SPHC includes information on LGBTQ+ status and health, lifestyle and social factors, making it a world-unique dataset to study mental health of young LGBTQ+ people.

Part 2 is qualitative and based on focus group discussions and in-depth interviews with young LGBTQ+ people.Plan for project realisationRegion Stockholm´s Centre for epidemiology and community medicine will host the project and has funded the SPHC.

We ask for funds to cover costs for salaries for the project staff, data management and research- and conference travel.RelevanceAbout 15% of young people 16-29-years in Sweden (N=211,000) are LGBTQ+ persons, and young LGBTQ+ people have poorer mental health than their non-LGBTQ+ peers. It is, therefore, of great societal interest to address mental health inequities in this population.

Our studies will span a very broad spectrum of young LGBTQ+ people, including gays, lesbians, bisexuals, transgender and queer persons and persons with gender dysphoria, making up a substantial share of young people in Sweden.

The project will add new knowledge on the mental health of young LGBTQ+ people and help optimize the societal support and reduce inequality.