A new study reveals that frequent exposure to negative online messages is significantly increasing depression, self-harm, and suicidal thoughts among LGBT+ individuals in Malaysia.

The research found that over three-quarters of respondents "often" or "very often" encountered negative content on social media, which frequently portrayed LGBT+ people as criminals or mentally ill, or advocated for "treatment" or harsher legal punishment.

This negative messaging triggers fear of societal rejection, police harassment, and being labeled mentally ill, directly contributing to heightened risks of depression, non-suicidal self-injury, and suicidal ideation. Politicians and religious leaders were identified as the primary sources of these messages.