“We found that anti-trans content in the news and social media is close to unavoidable,” said Dr Zwickl, a University of Melbourne researcher.<\/p>\n
“Over 70 per cent of people we surveyed had seen or heard anti-trans remarks online multiple times weekly in the previous month.”\u00a0<\/p>\n
Dr Zwickl said, as someone who was trans, the results were not surprising.<\/p>\n
“It’s something that I experience personally as well.”<\/p>\n
Three in four trans participants had cut back on news media to avoid harmful content.<\/p>\n
This, Dr Zwickl said, meant they also missed out on valuable online connections and keeping informed.<\/p>\n
Negative exposure and mental health<\/p>\n
Researchers asked participants about whether they saw any anti-trans remarks online or in the news media, and if so, how often.<\/p>\n
They then compared the mental health outcomes for people who were exposed to anti-trans stigma multiple times a week and people exposed less frequently.<\/p>\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/5da37792b55239e01d517b5cb3cf8146.jpeg\")
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River Zwickl was concerned, but not surprised, by the study’s findings. (Supplied: River Zwickl)<\/p>\n
People who had seen or heard about anti-trans remarks in the news media, multiple times weekly, compared to those who had experienced this less often, were:<\/p>\n
37 per cent more likely to report anxiety25 per cent more likely to report depression23 per cent more likely to report self-harm ideation38 per cent more likely to report self-harm behaviour33 per cent more likely to report suicidal Ideation43 per cent more likely to report suicide planning.<\/p>\n
Dr Zwickl said the correlation was “extraordinary”.<\/p>\n
“It’s certainly one of the highest, most clear findings in that respect between looking at an exposure [to anti-trans context] and [mental health] outcomes,” they said.<\/p>\n
Estimates from the Australian Bureau of Statistics suggest nearly 1 per cent of Australians, about 178,900 Australians, are trans and gender-diverse.<\/p>\n
The strength of family support<\/a><\/p>\n Receiving support from family is vital to improved mental health for LGBTQ+ youth, according to findings from a recent survey.<\/p>\n Dr Zwickl said given the relatively small percentage of trans and gender-diverse people living in Australia, their cohort of 807 was a representative sample and they would expect similar results in a larger cohort.<\/p>\n Damien Riggs, professor in social work at Flinders University, who did not contribute to the study, agreed.<\/p>\n Although the research did not prove causation, Professor Riggs said the strong association supported clinical observations.<\/p>\n “What it does is name something we already knew clinically, we already knew in the community,” he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n “When trans people are exposed to higher rates of discrimination in any form, it has negative impacts to their mental health.”Study points to potential solutions<\/p>\n Avery (not their real name) was one of the 807 people who took part in the study.<\/p>\n He said while there had “always” been a lot of anti-trans content online, the amount of negative content on social media appeared to have either increased or become more prominent in the past 12 months.<\/p>\n “It’s deeply unpleasant and often quite upsetting,” he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n ABC Health in your Instagram feed<\/a><\/p>\n Follow @abchealth on Instagram, where we’re busting myths and sharing practical, smart health advice.<\/p>\n Avery said he was concerned about the impact this content had on others, especially young trans and gender-diverse people and their families.<\/p>\n Dr Zwickl said there were a few things on a policy level that could improve outcomes for trans and gender-diverse people.<\/p>\n Specifically, they wanted media outlets to be held accountable for publishing anti-trans information and for social media platforms to introduce greater protections for minority groups.<\/p>\n Australia’s broadcast radio industry codes, which have recently been updated, state material cannot incite hatred, serious contempt or sever ridicule towards a person or group because of attributes including transgender status.<\/p>\n But Dr Zwickl wants the codes strengthened, with serious penalties for non-compliance.<\/p>\n Researchers say more needs to be done to protect vulnerable people from unnecessary harm. (Pexels: Towfiqu barbhuiya<\/a>)<\/p>\n In a statement, a spokesperson for the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts said the government was strengthening its cyberbullying and cyber-abuse schemes.<\/p>\n Part of this, they said, would give the eSafety commissioner power to respond more quickly to such content.\u00a0<\/p>\n They also said Australia’s proposed digital duty of care laws would force online service providers to be “proactive” in preventing harm rather than putting the onus on users to report harm after it had occurred.<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/e1d93284cf7dc5d76ed6a03130eb970b.jpeg\")
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