Who is most vulnerable to mental health struggles?
No one is immune to mental health struggles. Anxiety and depression affect people of all races, genders, religions, and sexual orientations. But we do know that some are impacted more than others.
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The LGBTQ+ community has higher rates of anxiety and depression. In a 2022 National Survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health, conducted by the Trevor Project, 73% of LGBTQ+ youth reported experiencing current symptoms of anxiety, and 45% said they had seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year.
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Teen girls, ages 12-17, are three times as likely to experience depression than teen boys.
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Young adults, ages 18-25, are almost two times as likely as teens (13-17) to suffer from anxiety and depression.
Research shows that mental illness likely has a genetic component, meaning it can be passed through generations. However, it’s usually caused by a mix of genetic factors and environmental influences. Some mental health disorders, like bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, depression, and ADHD, are more closely linked to genetics than others. So, while your genes can play a role, the environment you grow up in and your life experiences also matter a lot.
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