Almost half of trans pupils have tried to take own lives, study finds

Almost half of young trans people have tried to kill themselves, according to alarming new findings about the experiences of LGBT pupils in schools and colleges across the UK.

Conducted by rights charity Stonewall, the study revealed that eight out of 10 (84 per cent) young trans people have self-harmed and 45 per cent have tried to take their own lives.

Nearly one in 10 (nine per cent) have received death threats at school,

While LGBT bullying and use of homophobic language has decreased in schools over the last five years, the survey of more than 3,700 lesbian, gay, bi and trans pupils found that poor mental health is alarmingly high among this group.

As a result it is having a considerable impact on young people’s wellbeing and education.

Conducted in partnership with the Centre for Family Research at Cambridge University, the Stonewall School Report 2017 found that while schools are much more likely to condemn homophobic bullying than in previous years, fewer than a third of bullied LGBT pupils (29 per cent) said teachers intervened when they witnessed the bullying and four out of 10 are never taught about LGBT issues at school.

Amy, an 18-year-old pupil at a single-sex secondary school in the south-east, told the report's authors: “I started getting death threats online after I came out. I told my head of year, but they just told me to come off the internet. It carried on for years.”

Louis, 13, who is at school in the south-west, said: “They poured milk on me while asking if I liked it. They said I should kill myself because I had no friends.”

Seventeen-year-old Ben, who is studying at an FE college in the north-west of England, meanwhile said: “The bullying went on for over five consecutive years. I ended up developing severe mental health issues and being sectioned twice.”

The findings also showed that just one in five (20 per cent) LGBT young people have been taught about safe sex in relation to same-sex relationships.

Stonewall’s chief executive, Ruth Hunt, welcomed progress in schools, but said the report should act as “a wake-up call” to educators and politicians.

She added that much more needs to be done to improve LGBT pupils’ experiences.

“Stonewall has worked alongside governments and schools over the last decade to combat anti-LGBT bullying and create inclusive learning environments for young people," she said.

“Our school years are one of the most formative periods of our lives, and we owe it to young LGBT people to ensure they don’t face discrimination or bullying because of who they are, but are supported to flourish and achieve.

“While our new School Report shows an improved experience for pupils in many ways, it also needs to act as a wake-up call for schools, government and politicians on just how far we still have to go.”

In response to the findings, a Government spokesperson said: “While it is encouraging to see that anti-LGBT bullying has decreased, we are clear that any form of bullying in schools simply must not be tolerated.

"We are committed to ensuring children are free from being bullied because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

"That is why we have invested £3 million in to an anti-homophobic, biphobic and transphobic bullying programme in schools around the country to prevent and address the bullying of LGBT pupils and to educate young people to accept and respect each other’s individuality.”