The Maine Wire
  • News
  • Commentary
  • Maine Wire TV
  • About
  • Contact
Facebook Twitter Instagram
Trending News
  • Mills’ Late-Term Abortion Bill Gets Last Minute Work Session for Thursday Afternoon
  • Maine Republicans Score Tentative Victory in Delaying Trans Trafficking Bill
  • Lawmakers Nix Public School Transparency Bill Favored by Bipartisan Majority of Mainers
  • Asylum Seekers Staying in Sanford Inn Will Soon Have to Find Another Place To Stay
  • Chellie Pingree Says “No One Is Coming For Your Gas Stove” But Daughter Hannah Pingree Disagrees
  • New England Energy Prices Have Increased as Demand Has Declined Due to Climate Policies, Report Finds
  • Gardiner High School Implements Controversial New “American Flag Only” Policy Following Student Clash
  • Taxes in Portland Could Rise by 10 Percent If State Declines to Help With Asylum Seeker Crisis: WGME
Facebook Twitter Instagram
The Maine Wire
Login
Wednesday, June 7
  • News
  • Commentary
  • Maine Wire TV
  • About
  • Contact
The Maine Wire
Home » News » Survey Shows Depression, Gender Confusion Rising in Maine High Schoolers
News

Survey Shows Depression, Gender Confusion Rising in Maine High Schoolers

Steve RobinsonBy Steve RobinsonDecember 5, 2022Updated:December 5, 20221 Comment2 Mins Read
Facebook Twitter Email LinkedIn Reddit
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email

The number of Maine high school students who identify as transgender more than doubled from 2019 to 2021, according to the Maine Integrated Youth Health Survey conducted by the Maine Department of Education.

The survey also showed significant increases in Maine high schoolers reporting depression and suicide ideation.

In 2019, 1.6 percent of students reported that they were transgender. In 2021, that number rose to 3.6 percent.

The 2021 survey gleaned that information by asking the following question:

“Some people describe themselves as transgender when their sex at birth does not match the way they think or feel about their gender. Are you transgender?”

The number of students identifying as gay, lesbian, or bisexual also increased significantly since 2019.

In 2019, 2.8 percent of students identifies as gay or lesbian, while 9.6 percent of students said they were bisexual.

The question was asked slightly differently in the 2021 survey, but the data shows 21.2 percent of students identified as gay, lesbian, or bisexual, with another 4.6 percent saying they were not sure about their “sexual identity.”

The State categorized the increase in transgender identifications as “significantly higher” than the last survey.

The survey also found significantly higher self-reported incidences of depression and suicide ideation among Maine’s high school students.

The percentage of students who reported feeling sad or hopeless for more than two weeks rose from 32.1 percent in 2019 to 35.9 percent in 2021.

In response to the question, “During the last 12 months, did you ever seriously consider attempting suicide?,” 18.5 percent of high schoolers said yes. In 2019, that rate was just 16.4 percent.

The 2021 MIYHS is the first time the survey has been collected since Gov. Janet Mills ordered schools closed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

More than two-thirds of students said doing school work during the pandemic was more difficult, while 42.7 percent said their mental health was “not good” during the school closures.


Previous Article30% of Maine High School Students Overweight or Obese
Next Article DC Fixer Leslie Dach Behind Biden Admin’s Hunter Spin Machine
Steve Robinson
  • Twitter

Steve Robinson is the Editor-in-Chief of The Maine Wire. ‪He can be reached by email at Robinson@TheMaineWire.com.

Related Posts

Mills’ Late-Term Abortion Bill Gets Last Minute Work Session for Thursday Afternoon

June 7, 2023

Maine Republicans Score Tentative Victory in Delaying Trans Trafficking Bill

June 7, 2023

Lawmakers Nix Public School Transparency Bill Favored by Bipartisan Majority of Mainers

June 7, 2023

1 Comment

  1. vorbelutr ioperbir on May 29, 2023 11:31 AM

    I do agree with all of the ideas you have presented in your post. They’re very convincing and will certainly work. Still, the posts are very short for beginners. Could you please extend them a bit from next time? Thanks for the post.

Leave A Reply

Recent News

Mills’ Late-Term Abortion Bill Gets Last Minute Work Session for Thursday Afternoon

June 7, 2023

Maine Republicans Score Tentative Victory in Delaying Trans Trafficking Bill

June 7, 2023

Lawmakers Nix Public School Transparency Bill Favored by Bipartisan Majority of Mainers

June 7, 2023

Asylum Seekers Staying in Sanford Inn Will Soon Have to Find Another Place To Stay

June 7, 2023

Chellie Pingree Says “No One Is Coming For Your Gas Stove” But Daughter Hannah Pingree Disagrees

June 7, 2023
Newsletter

News

  • News
  • Campaigns & Elections
  • Opinion & Commentary
  • Media Watch
  • Education
  • Media

Maine Wire

  • About the Maine Wire
  • Advertising
  • Contact Us
  • Submit Commentary
  • Complaints
  • Maine Policy Institute

Resources

  • Maine Legislature
  • Legislation Finder
  • Get the Newsletter
  • Maine Wire TV

Facebook Twitter Instagram Steam RSS
  • Post Office Box 7829, Portland, Maine 04112

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

Sign In or Register

Welcome Back!

Login below or Register Now.

Lost password?

Register Now!

Already registered? Login.

A password will be e-mailed to you.