In one Oklahoma high school, 16-year-old Nex Benedict experienced frequent incidents of bullying from their classmates due to their gender identity. This environment—combined with the increasing presence of anti-trans legislation in Oklahoma—had a tremendous impact on their mental health. They died after being physically assaulted in a school bathroom, their death ruled a suicide by police.
As educators, we see firsthand how mental health impacts the well-being of our students. Risk factors can be even greater for trans and nonbinary youth, who often experience higher rates of anxiety and depression.
To best care for our students, we need to understand the concerns of trans and nonbinary young people. Learn more about mental health concerns for LGBTQ+ youth and how educators can make a difference.
The Importance of Mental Health for Young People
Mental health is a critical aspect of development and overall well-being for young people. It impacts their emotional regulation, social interactions, academic performance and future life outcomes.
According to the CDC’s “Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Data Summary and Trends Report: 2011-2021,” more than 1 in 5 students have seriously considered taking their own life. That number rises greatly in marginalized groups; among LGBTQ+ students, it soars to 45%. For trans and nonbinary youth, 1 in 5 attempted suicide in 2023.
Mental health struggles can present at any age, with some symptoms beginning in early childhood. Often, it’s educators who are the first to identify symptoms in children.
The impact of these struggles on education is significant. Gender-diverse students frequently face bullying and discrimination, which can lead to a decreased sense of belonging, school avoidance, and lower academic performance.
For gender-diverse youth, additional barriers significantly impact their daily lives and long-term development, making it even more important to have access to support for mental health.
What Impacts Mental Health for Gender-Diverse Youth?
Gender-diverse youth (those whose gender identity or expression differs from the sex they were assigned at birth) are at more risk for mental health struggles than their cisgender peers.
There are several factors contributing to mental health disparities, resulting in higher rates of anxiety and depression.
- Lack of acceptance at home: Whether a child’s home environment is supportive will greatly shape their overall mental health. In the Trevor Project survey, only 38% of young people said their home was LGBTQ+-affirming. Lack of acceptance at home can also create additional barriers regarding access to mental health care.
- Affirming pronoun usage: Using correct pronouns for gender-diverse young people at home and in the classroom has positive outcomes for their mental health. Trans and nonbinary young people reported lower rates of attempting suicide when surrounded by people who use their correct pronouns.
- Barriers to accessing affirming health care: For gender-diverse youth, affirming care extends to every aspect of the patient experience. When waiting at the doctor’s office, will they hear the wrong name called? Will a nurse ask for their pronouns and use them correctly? Will they feel safe to express concerns or ask questions of their health care provider? Additionally, many states have restricted access to gender-affirming care, including puberty blockers (which delay the onset of puberty). Together, these experiences create additional barriers for LGBTQ+ youth.
- Barriers to accessing mental health treatment: The 2023 report from the Trevor Project found that 56% of LGBTQ+ young people who wanted access to mental health care were not able to get it. For some, access is only provided to anti-trans mental health practitioners who do not provide gender-affirming care.
- Bullying and discrimination at school: Bullying continues to be a concern within schools, and gender-diverse young people experience more incidents of bullying. Half of trans and nonbinary young people said their school was gender-affirming, and those with supportive schools reported lower rates of attempting suicide.
- Overlapping systems of oppression: Gender-diverse young people already experience greater degrees of mental health struggles. For those with other marginalized identities—such as young people with disabilities or those who are Black or Indigenous—the risk factors rise greatly. When experiencing discrimination toward multiple aspects of their identity, young people are more likely to experience poor mental health.
- Anti-LGBTQ+ public policy and law: As the public debates bathroom bills and gender-affirming health care, LGBTQ+ youth are caught in the crosshairs. One in 3 young people say anti-LGBTQ policies and legislation negatively impacted their mental health.
How Educators Can Make a Difference
As educators, we can help cultivate an inclusive environment that promotes the well-being of all students, including those who are gender diverse.
Create an Inclusive Curriculum
Incorporate diverse gender identities and experiences into the curriculum to reflect and validate students’ identities. This can include literature, history, and discussions that encompass a range of gender experiences.
It can help to have a list of affirming LGBTQ+ books to teach or recommend. (Even better: keep some of these books in your classroom!) According to children’s literature scholar Rudine Sims Bishop, these books create mirrors and windows, serving as tools for both self-affirmation and cultivating empathy. As mirrors, LGBTQ+ books enable young people to see their voices and experiences represented. As windows, these books help other young people or family members better understand the experiences of people who are different from them.
Advocate for Anti-Bullying Policies
With the right tools, educators can advocate for LGBTQ+ students within their schools via anti-bullying policies.
- Educators can work within their school and district to advocate for strong anti-bullying policies that specifically address gender-based harassment.
- Ensure that these policies are communicated clearly and that there are established procedures for reporting and addressing incidents. Hold administrators accountable for enforcing these policies, and advocate for gender-diverse youth when needed.
- Anti-bias training is key to preparing educators to advocate for these changes within their schools.
As part of our long-standing commitment to social justice and advocacy, Pacific Oaks has a robust anti-bias curriculum, equipping future teachers with the skills necessary to foster inclusive learning environments.
Seek Out Professional Development
When it comes to inclusion, we often don’t know what we don’t know. That’s why educators need training to provide affirming care for gender-diverse students. Here are three ways you can get started on advancing your professional development in supporting LGBTQ+ students:
- Continue seeking out opportunities to learn more about the needs of LGBTQ+ students, whether that be via reading books by and about LGBTQ+ people, attending a workshop or connecting with organizations within your community.
- One path is to pursue higher education training to advance your career and gain tools in supporting LGBTQ+ youth. You can also find learning opportunities with community partners in your area.
- When possible, engage in ongoing professional development focused on gender diversity and inclusion. This training should include understanding the needs of gender-diverse students and practical strategies for creating a supportive classroom environment. Encourage your colleagues to participate, too.
As with any kind of learning, there’s no moment of arrival. We must all continue to do the work of educating ourselves to be better educators and community members toward marginalized groups.
Cultivate a Supportive Environment
There are several steps educators can take to cultivate an inclusive classroom environment:
- Make sure to use the correct pronouns. This is a simple yet powerful way to make gender-diverse students feel respected. If you make a mistake, quickly correct it and move on.
- When it aligns with the wishes of your student, remind students of a classmate’s correct name/pronouns when needed.
- When you notice colleagues misgendering a student, using the wrong name/pronouns, or otherwise acting from a place of bias, call them in.
- Remember that LGBTQ+ people hold a wide variety of intersecting identities, including different races, cultures, genders, sexualities, faiths and economic backgrounds. The experiences and needs of one person won’t necessarily be the same in another.
- When in doubt, ask a student how they would like you to support them. Do they want you to correct their classmates if they are misnamed or misgendered? Do they want you to use the same name/pronouns in class as you would with their parents, or would they prefer you to switch?
Engage with Families and Communities
They say it takes a village, and it’s true: Supporting gender-diverse youth requires a collaborative effort from educators, institutions, and communities.
When possible, work collaboratively with students’ families and communities to ensure that support extends beyond the classroom. This partnership can help create a consistent and supportive environment for gender-diverse youth.
Be mindful, though, that some students might not have safe home environments. Never assume that a parent knows about a young person’s gender identity or sexuality—and be careful not to out your students to others without their consent.
Pacific Oaks: Leading the Way for Inclusive eEducation
At Pacific Oaks, we are dedicated to fostering an inclusive and equitable environment. Guided by four core values—respect, diversity, social justice, and inclusion—our education programs include comprehensive training on gender diversity, preparing future educators to better understand the needs of gender-diverse students.
Pacific Oaks also collaborates with community partners—such as the LGBTQ+ Center Long Beach—to support LGBTQ+ youth and promote mental health initiatives. Together, we can cultivate more inclusive education environments via culturally responsive education, advocacy, programs and services.
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