70% of LGBT+ youth in Estonia have considered suicide, says MP Izmailova

Riigikogu member Zuzu Izmailova has spoken out about alarming mental health statistics among LGBT+ youth in Estonia. According to data she cited, 70% of LGBT+ young people have considered suicide in the past year, and 28% have attempted it at some point in their lives.

Estonian MP Zuzu Izmailova has drawn public attention to deeply troubling mental health data affecting LGBT+ youth in Estonia, sharing that 70% of LGBT+ young people have considered suicide within the past year, and 28% have made a suicide attempt at some point in their lives.

Speaking on the programme Puuduta mind, Izmailova described the hostile environment she herself faces when advocating for LGBT+ youth, including receiving comments online saying that such young people «should just kill themselves». She stressed that the hatred and humiliation widespread in Estonian society does not remain confined to words on the internet — it has very real consequences for the mental health of young people.

Izmailova has been one of the more vocal voices in the Riigikogu on the issue of LGBT+ rights and youth wellbeing. Her statements highlight a growing concern among mental health advocates that social stigma and online hostility are contributing to a serious psychological crisis among a vulnerable segment of Estonia's youth population.

Mental health experts and advocacy groups have long warned that rejection, bullying, and social exclusion place LGBT+ young people at significantly elevated risk of depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation. The statistics cited by Izmailova are consistent with research conducted in other European countries, where similar disparities in mental health outcomes have been documented.

The discussion underscores an ongoing debate in Estonia about how public discourse, legislation, and community support structures can better protect young people who identify as LGBT+. Izmailova has called for greater societal awareness and for concrete steps to reduce the hostility that LGBT+ youth encounter both online and in everyday life.