This has been a tough year for young Black Americans, but even more so for LGBTQ youth, according to a new study that found they have faced an increased rate of mental health struggles and difficult living situations, compounded by acts of violence against Blacks, such as the police killings of George Floyd and Breanna Taylor. 

A new study by the Trevor Project, the world’s largest suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer & questioning (LGBTQ) young people, shows how LGBTQ youth, especially those who are Black or transgender, have been among the most negatively impacted by current events. 

The findings are based on a poll that Morning Consult, a data company, conducted between July 21-July 29, 2020, behalf of The Trevor Project. The poll used a national sample of 1,200 young people between the ages of 13–24, including 600 LGBTQ youth, 600 straight/cisgender youth, 175 Black LGBTQ youth, and 196 Black straight/cisgender youth. 

According to a Trevor Project news release, a majority of LGBTQ youth reported recent symptoms of anxiety (55%) or depression (53%) due to the pandemic. The poll also found one in three Black LGBTQ youth (32%) stated that the COVID-19 pandemic made their living situations “much more stressful” than before. By living at home, LGBTQ youth limit their ability to be themselves and contact support systems. For instance, college students who returned home after the pandemic began had to decide if they’re going to tell their sexual identity to their parents or hide it from them. 

LGBTQ youth (73%) and straight/cisgender youth (61%) stated that recent news reports, images, and videos about violence against Black people in the United States have negatively impacted their well-being. Black LGBTQ youth reported the highest rate of negative impact (78%), and with more intensity — 44% reported their well-being has been negatively impacted “a lot,” compared to 32% of all LGBTQ youth and 23% of straight/cisgender youth. 

“This year has been difficult for everyone, but it has been especially challenging for LGBTQ youth, and particularly Black LGBTQ youth, who have found themselves at the crossroads of multiple mounting tragedies,” said Amit Paley, CEO and Executive Director of The Trevor Project, in a news release issued on Oct. 2. 

One Black LGBTQ youth person whose mental health has been negatively affected because of the acts of violence against Black people is 23-year-old Dominque Thomas. Thomas is bisexual and has been ‘out’ for five years now. Thomas decided to take a step back from social media. Via email, she said,” I noticed that when I was constantly reading and reposting the news reports I was way more depressed. It made me paranoid in public situations- I felt like the world hated me and my family because we’re black. And while racism is literally everywhere, sometimes spending time online made me forget that there are good people in the world too.” 

To get through these current tough times, 11 percent of Black LGBTQ youth have been finding joy and practicing self-care by reading, listening to music, exercising, and playing video games. Nine percent are sleeping, hanging with friends, creating art, and mediating. Others are taking time by themselves, watching television, spending time with family, or doing nothing. 

Thomas has been spending a lot of free time doing things that make her feel better and productive, including yoga and meditation, listening to music, and watching tv. She uses social distancing as an opportunity to try new at-home hobbies and learn how to be comfortable spending time alone. 

“We’ve known that LGBTQ youth have faced unique challenges because of the countless heartbreaking stories we’ve heard on our 24/7 phone lifeline, text, and chat crisis services; but these findings illuminate the existence of alarming mental health disparities that must be addressed through public policy,” said Paley. “And it’s abundantly clear that recent acts of racism and anti-Black violence have also had a profoundly negative impact on the mental health of our nation’s young people.”