Young LGBT+ people in Wales loneliest in the UK, new research shows

Over half of LGBT+ young people feel lonely on a daily basis in Wales, new research has found.

According to a report by charity Just Like Us, 60% of young LGBT+ people in Wales said they felt lonely on a daily basis, the highest percentage in the UK.

That compared to 52% of LGBT+ young people who said they felt lonely on a daily basis across the UK as a whole, and only 27% of young people who are not LGBT+.

The results come after research published last week showed that almost three-quarters of young LGBT+ people in Wales have had suicidal thoughts and feelings.

73% of LGBT+ young people in Wales told the charity last week that they experienced these feelings, compared with 67% in England. The figure was however lower than Scotland and Northern Ireland at 79% and 82%.

‘Struggling’

Dominic Arnall, Chief Executive of Just Like Us (the LGBT+ young people’s charity), has called for primary schools, secondary schools and colleges to demonstrate to their LGBT+ pupils that they are safe and welcome in their places of learning.

“The independent research undoubtedly shows that LGBT+ pupils are disproportionately struggling but also shows that sending positive messages of LGBT+ acceptance goes hand-in-hand with positive outcomes for all pupils,” he said.

Just Like Us is asking schools to create a more supportive framework for struggling pupils as research indicates pupils in schools with strong positive messaging around being LGBT+ were also less likely to experience suicidal thoughts and feelings.

The charity has been working with primary schools, secondary schools and colleges across the UK for five years to improve the lives of LGBT+ young people across the UK through their free annual initiative School Diversity Week, happening 21-25 June this year.