New study shows 'Support = Happiness'

 A new study done in the United Kingdom by Just Like Us — a young people’s charity organisation — has identified a link between a lack of LGBTIQ+ support in childhood and negative outcomes for mental health, wellbeing and career prospects in early adulthood.

The report surveyed 3,695 people aged 18 to 25 across the UK, including a pool of 1,736 queer young adults. When compared with queer people who grew up with support, both at home and in school, the survey found those who lacked it were half as likely to say they are happy in adulthood (43 per cent compared with 85 per cent).

Amy Ashenden, the CEO of Just Like Us, described the findings as heart-breaking, saying the impacts of a lack of support were prolonged and devastating.

Positive Futures report: key findings

LGBTIQ young adults from unsupportive school and home backgrounds were:

• Four times as likely to feel ashamed of being LGBT+ (41% vs 9%)
• More than twice as likely to have experienced panic attacks (60% vs 28%) and nearly twice as likely to have experienced depression in the past year (82% vs 42%)
• More than three times as likely to ‘never or rarely’ feel optimistic about their future (42% vs 12%)
• Three times more likely to not be confident they’ll have a career they enjoy (48% vs 17%)
• Half as as likely to feel good about themselves (41% vs 89%)
• More than four times as likely to ‘rarely or never’ feel close to other people (49% vs 11%)
• Half as likely to be confident that they will find a life partner (34% vs 70%) and have children (25% vs 49%), even though they want to 
• Nearly half as likely to say they are happy in adulthood (43% vs 85%)
• More than twice as likely to have had suicidal thoughts and feelings (85% vs 39%)
• More than twice as likely to have self-harmed (71% vs 33%)

“Young people desperately need to hear that the adults in their lives unequivocally believe that being LGBT+ does not make you lesser than.”

– Amy Ashenden, interim CEO

Amy Ashenden, interim CEO of Just Like Us, the LGBT+ young people’s charity, said: “LGBT+ young people deserve to feel safe and supported both at home and at school, and it’s heartbreaking to see the prolonged, devastating impact in early adulthood when this is not the case. I’d like to thank Deloitte for sponsoring Just Like Us to produce this landmark report, with research independently conducted by Cibyl.

“From their mental health, hopes for the future and career prospects to their relationships with themselves and others, our Positive Futures report clearly shows that supporting LGBT+ children is absolutely vital for their chances of happiness and success as adults."