2021 Healthy Kids Colorado Survey Results
8/24/22
By Michal Duffy (they/them), Director of Education & Research
The Healthy Kids Colorado Survey (HKCS) is an important source of data about the health and well-being of young people in Colorado, and one that Out Boulder County routinely references. The response rates are provided as a whole as well as by subgroups, including for transgender, genderqueer/nonbinary, asexual, bisexual, and gay/lesbian respondents, so that disparities for various groups can be identified. This survey is administered every other year by the State, and the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment (CDPHE) shares the data and key takeaways on their website: https://cdphe.colorado.gov/hkcs
In 2021, 106,799 students in 340 public middle and high schools in 51 Colorado counties participated in the survey. Boulder County is in Region 16 if you are interested in regional analysis. You can explore data by survey year, health topic, and health measure by using the HKCS Dashboard: https://cdphe.colorado.gov/healthy-kids-colorado-survey-dashboard
In line with previous years, we see alarming disparities for LGBTQ+ youth and youth who are “not sure” about their gender identity and sexual orientation. Many of the measures reveal that genderqueer/nonbinary, transgender, bisexual, and respondents who select “not sure” or “other” for the sexual orientation and/or gender identity experience the highest risk of poor health indicators.
Two alarming disparities highlighted in CDPHE’s press release reflect on suicidality and a sense of belonging:
Suicide Attempts
While the percentage of youth who have seriously considered (17%), planned (13%), and attempted suicide (7%) in the past year has not changed since 2015, disaggregated 2021 Healthy Kids Colorado Survey data show:
23% of genderqueer/nonbinary youth attempted suicide in the past year, compared to 8% of their female peers and 4% of their male peers.
20% of bisexual youth, 18% of gay/lesbian youth, and 11% of asexual youth attempted suicide in the past year, compared to 4% of their heterosexual peers.
26% of transgender youth attempted suicide in the past year, compared to 7% of their cisgender peers.
10% of Multiracial youth attempted suicide in the past year, compared to 7% of their white peers.
Feeling of Belonging
Similarly, 65% of youth felt like they belong at their school (a new question in 2021), but disaggregated data reveal that:
37% of genderqueer/nonbinary youth felt like they belong at their school, compared to 63% of their female peers and 69% of male peers.
49% of bisexual youth, 48% of gay/lesbian youth, 48% of asexual youth felt like they belong at their school, compared to 71% of their heterosexual peers.
38% of transgender youth felt like they belong at their school, compared to 66% of their cisgender peers.
For us at Out Boulder County, this data is a clear reminder about the importance of the work that we do everyday. We know there is nothing about LGBTQ+ identities that are inherently prone to negative health indicators, but that these disparities result from stigma, discrimination, harassment, and oppression that populations who have been marginalized experience daily.
This is why we take a multi-prong approach to realizing our mission: direct service in our youth program and mental health program, support for families with LGBTQ+ youth, and broad community education.
We invite you to help us do our part to address these health disparities facing our LGBTQ+ youth by making a gift to support the work and/or volunteering.