About 85% of LGBTQ students responding to a survey in China reported depression.

What’s more, the survey by Beijing Normal University found 40% of respondents had considered suicide.

Chinese news site Caixin Global analyzed results of a survey of 732 LGBTQ students from 29 provinces.

Significantly, only 2.9% of respondents had LGBTI-supportive teachers.

China legalized gay sex in 1997 and removed it from the list of mental illnesses in 2001.

But, in a conservative and family-orientated society, many LGBTI Chinese live in the closet. Same-sex marriage is also illegal.

The survey found most respondents (more than 80%) had come out to someone.

But, more than 70% had not told their parents, siblings, other relatives, or teachers.

‘Having a more inclusive school climate and more school resources, especially a positive LGBTQ role model, were significantly associated with the reduction of LGBTQ students’ suicidal ideation’ the report said, according to Caixin.

Censorship

Activists in China warn that harsh censorship laws continue impact the population’s visibility.

China’s Netcasting Service Association (CNSA) officially banned LGBT content from China’s internet in June 2017.

CNSA labeled homosexuality ‘abnormal sexual behavior’.

This year, China has made the headlines for censoring LGBTI scenes from Bohemian Rhapsody and Game of Thrones.

What’s more, China’s largest social media, Sina Weibo, also started removing LGBTI content.

A page named ‘les’ and dedicated to lesbian users disappeared.

It had 143,000 members and 540 million engagements.

It comes almost exactly a year since Weibo first cracked down on LGBTI content.

The Cyberspace Administration of China on 10 April announced an 8-month crackdown on pornography.

It said any ‘content that violates correct marriage and family ethics’ should be removed.

See also

We often confuse sadness for depression and this is why it’s a problem

I opened up about my anxiety and depression to help other gay men

Feeling blue? LGBTI people living with depression give advice on how to cope