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New Report Highlights Mental Health Challenges LGBTQ+ New Yorkers May Face

Transgender, Nonbinary, And Other Gender Minority Adults More Likely To Experience Serious Psychological Distress Than Cisgender Adults

Prevalence Of Serious Psychological Distress Varies By Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, Age, Race, and Ethnicity

Part of Adams Administration's "Mental Health Week," Highlighting City's Multi-Agency Efforts to Connect New Yorkers with Mental Health Services

March 21, 2025 — Today, the New York City Health Department released a new report revealing that LGBTQ+ New Yorkers are more likely to struggle with mental health challenges than heterosexual or cisgender adults. . Among the findings, the report shows higher rates of serious psychological distress (SPD) and social isolation among sexual and gender minorities compared to those who identify as heterosexual and cisgender. SPD includes mental health problems that may affect social, occupational, and educational functioning.

“As we mark ‘Mental Health Week’ and so much of what our administration is doing to support New Yorkers’ mental health needs, we must take a step back and realize all that still needs to be done to support the mental health of our LGBTQ+ community,” said New York City Mayor Eric Adams. “Depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation are serious threats, and too many New Yorkers, including LGBTQ+ New Yorkers, are silently suffering from mental health struggles. Our administration is committed to supporting our LGBTQ+ community and providing them with the necessary resources to ensure their well-being as we uphold our city’s proud legacy as the home of Stonewall.”

“These findings underscore the need for prioritizing safety and inclusivity for LGBTQ+ New Yorkers, as well as tailored mental health services and community support,” said Acting Health Commissioner Dr. Michelle Morse. “We at the Health Department regularly collect and publish critical, actionable data that inform our efforts to provide all New Yorkers access to the care they need. I am proud to center the health of our LGBTQ+ neighbors and work to reduce all barriers to mental health care they may face, ensuring our city is a safe and affirming place.”

The growing number of anti-LGBTQ+ laws and policies at the state and federal level have caused LGBTQ+ adults to face stigma, bias-motivated violence, and discrimination in education, employment, healthcare, and housing. These effects may put them at heightened risk of poor mental health.

The study, conducted by the New York City Health Department, looked at data from the 2023 NYC Neighborhood Wellness Survey to focus on its findings, entitled “Mental Health Outcomes among LGBTQ+ Adults in New York City.”

This week, the Adams administration is celebrating "Mental Health Week," highlighting the city's multi-agency efforts to support New Yorkers’ efforts to address mental health, ranging from serious mental illness to expanding resources to underserved communities — all supporting Mayor Adams' 2025 State of the City commitment to make New York City the best place to live and raise a family.

The report shows that in 2023, 14 percent of New Yorkers surveyed identified their sexual orientation as something other than heterosexual. An estimated 2 percent of people surveyed did not identify their gender with their assigned sex at birth.

“In this report, we highlight the inequities in mental health outcomes for LGBTQ+ adults in New York City — our families, friends, colleagues, and neighbors,” said Executive Deputy Commissioner of the Division of Mental Hygiene Dr. Jean Wright. “The Health Department is committed to expanding and affirming mental health counseling for LGBTQ+ adults, as well as reducing the long-term factors that drive mental health inequities — anti-LGBTQ+ policies and bias-based violence and discrimination in education, employment, healthcare, and housing.”

"This report makes clear that LGBTQ+ New Yorkers experience mental health challenges at significantly higher rates due to systemic inequities and barriers to care,” said Ronald Porcelli, NYC Unity Project Executive Director. “As a city, we are committed to addressing these disparities by expanding access to affirming mental health resources, strengthening community support systems, and ensuring that every LGBTQ+ New Yorker knows they are seen, valued, and supported. The Unity Project will continue working alongside the NYC Health Department to enhance comprehensive, affirming support systems for LGBTQ+ New Yorkers."

Key Findings

The prevalence of SPD was higher among adults identifying as gay or lesbian (12%), bisexual (16%), another sexual orientation (23%), or unsure of their sexual orientation (13%) than among heterosexual adults (7%).
Transgender (21%), nonbinary (23%), and other gender minority adults (25%) were 2 to 3 times more likely to experience SPD than cisgender adults (8%).
Social Isolation:
- The prevalence of social isolation (defined as feeling cut off or distant from other people somewhat or a lot in the past 30 days) was higher among adults identifying as gay or lesbian (52%), bisexual (57%), another sexual orientation (52%), or unsure of their sexual orientation (44%) than among heterosexual adults (38%).
- Nearly half of transgender adults (49%) and three in four non-binary or genderqueer adults (73%) experienced social isolation, which was higher than prevalence of social isolation among cisgender adults (39%).
Age, Race, and Ethnicity:
- Among sexual minorities, adults ages 18 to 24 reported a higher prevalence of SPD (21%) than those 45 to 64 (13%) and 65 and older (6%).
- Among adults who identified as a sexual orientation other than heterosexual, there was a higher prevalence of SPD among Latino adults (19%) compared with white (12%), Black (13%), Asian or Pacific Islander adults (14%), and adults of other races (13%).

How We Support LGBTQ+ New Yorkers

The Adams administration is working to promote positive mental health outcomes for LGBTQ+ adults. The Health Department maintains the NYC Health Map, which includes an online directory of LGBTQ+ knowledgeable mental health providers, and LGBTQ+ Health and Transgender Health resources.

Through the NYC Health Map, you can also find LGBTQ-knowledgeable providers who can offer you services in primary care, sexual health care, and gender affirming care.

NYC Health + Hospitals, the largest municipal hospital system in the country, is committed to empowering LGBTQ+ New Yorkers to live their healthiest lives possible and was the first municipal hospital system to open a health care center dedicated to the needs of LGBTQ+ New Yorkers. NYC Health + Hospitals supports seven Pride Health Centers across the city that offer culturally-sensitive and comprehensive gender-affirming health care services to LGBTQ+ patients.

The Adams administration has made continued investments and policy reforms to support the LGBTQ+ community. The administration announced the city’s Family Acceptance of LGBTQ+ Youth Initiative, a groundbreaking program aimed at fostering acceptance and support for LGBTQ+ youth among parents, caregivers, families, and communities. In 2022, together with the NYC Unity Project, the Mayor’s Office of Equity & Racial Justice (MOERJ), and the New York City Department for Youth and Community Development, Mayor Adams announced an announced investments in The Pride Health Center at NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, Judson, one of seven centers in the city’s public health system providing culturally sensitive, gender-affirming care to LGBTQ+ patients. Developed in partnership with the NYC Unity Project and MOERJ, these investments enhance community and mental health programming, provide staff training, renovate the clinic’s second floor to create community spaces, and expand access to confidential HIV prevention services.

In another effort to support the LGBTQ+ community, Mayor Adams signed Executive Order 32 to protect access to gender-affirming health care in New York City. The executive order prevents the use of city resources to detain any individual who is providing or receiving gender-affirming health care services in the five boroughs. Additionally, the executive order denies the use of resources by the City of New York to cooperate with any prosecution or investigation by another state of an individual for providing or receiving gender-affirming care.

The NYC Unity Project, the city’s LGBTQ+ interagency coordinating body, launched the NYC Unity Project Webpage, a digital hub for LGBTQ+ New Yorkers. The platform serves as a user-friendly resource center, connecting individuals with vital services, programs, and support networks tailored to their unique needs, including an LGBTQ+ Government Services Directory, LGBTQ+ Community Resources Directory, and TGNCNBI Rights and Resources.

In NYC, it is illegal to discriminate on the basis of a person’s sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression in public accommodations, including in health care settings. The Health Department continues to support LGBTQ+ New Yorkers and promote inclusive, gender-affirming services. You can read more about our commitment on our website. You can also learn more by reading the LGBTQ Health Care Bill of Rights.

New Yorkers experiencing discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity can file a complaint with the NYC Commission on Human Rights. For immediate mental health support, call or text 988 or visit nyc.gov/988. Trained counselors are available 24/7 by phone in over 200 languages and by text and chat services in English and Spanish.

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MEDIA CONTACT: PressOffice@health.nyc.gov