What Did Project SPARK Find About LGBTQ+ Young People's Mental Health?

Updated

Project SPARK is The Trevor Project's first longitudinal study, following 1,689 LGBTQ+ young people ages 13–24 across the U.S. over two years. The organization has released the study's two-year findings, drawn from five waves of data collected during that period. The report focuses on how young people's mental health, experiences, and sources of support change over time. The full findings are available in the report linked from The Trevor Project's website.

What Makes Project SPARK Different

Most research on LGBTQ+ youth mental health captures a single moment through a one-time survey. Project SPARK instead returns to the same participants repeatedly. That design matters because it lets researchers observe change within the same people rather than inferring change by comparing different groups.

The scope, as described by The Trevor Project:

Element Detail
Study type Longitudinal study (the organization's first)
Participants 1,689 LGBTQ+ young people
Age range 13–24
Geography Across the United States
Data collected Five waves over two years
Focus Mental health, experiences, and sources of support over time

Why the Longitudinal Design Matters

A repeated-measures study can address questions a single survey cannot. For example, if a young person reports feeling more supported in year two than in year one, researchers can ask what changed in their environment — a new school, an affirming friend group, access to a counselor — rather than only noting that support and well-being correlate.

The same logic applies to stress: tracking the same participants shows whether difficult periods are temporary or persistent, and which supports coincide with improvement. The Trevor Project frames the report as giving "a deeper understanding of how young people's mental health, experiences, and sources of support change over time."

Where Project SPARK Fits in The Trevor Project's Work

The organization describes itself as the leading suicide prevention and crisis intervention nonprofit for LGBTQ+ young people, providing information and support 24/7 year-round. Its work spans three areas:

  • Crisis support — trained counselors reachable by call, text, or chat at any time.
  • Research — studies such as Project SPARK and its published findings.
  • Advocacy — initiatives in all 50 states aimed at changing hearts, minds, and laws in support of young LGBTQ+ lives.

Project SPARK sits in the research pillar. Its findings are intended to inform how the organization and others understand the experiences of the young people it serves.

How to Use the Findings

  • If you want the primary source: read the two-year report, available via the announcement on The Trevor Project's site, before relying on secondhand summaries.
  • If you support an LGBTQ+ young person: the study's attention to sources of support over time is a reminder that consistent, affirming relationships are worth sustaining — not just crisis moments.
  • If you are struggling yourself: the research is context, not a substitute for help. The Trevor Project offers free, confidential support by phone, text, or chat, day or night, for anyone thinking about suicide or feeling lonely.

A Note on What the Report Covers

The available summary describes the study's design and themes — mental health, experiences, and support over time — rather than individual statistics. For specific figures and conclusions, consult the report itself; treat any numbers you see elsewhere as needing verification against the original.