Mental Health of LGBTQ+ Youth in the Education System - Applying the Agent Based Approach (ABA)

The mental health crisis of LGBTQ+ youth is a real problem with a lot of contributing factors. A meta-analysis conducted in 2011 showed that the mental health of LGBTQ+ youth and risk of depression or suicidality is far higher than their non-LGBTQ+ peers by a rate of 2.92. Further more, CDC data shows that regardless of sex, LGB adolescents are at significantly higher risk of suicide. This paper uses a Systems Thinking-focused Agent Based Approach (ABA) to discuss and analyze the Complex Adaptive System (CAS) of the mental health of LGBTQ+ youth in the education system. It also analyzes these systems that have an adverse effect on LGBTQ+ youth in a time where newly proposed Title IX amendments have the potential to grant Title IX protections to sexual orientation and gender identity within the education system.