![]() ![]() ![]() Research has shown that when transgender youth are not able to use their chosen names at home, school, work or with friends, they are more likely to experience symptoms of depression, consider suicide and attempt suicide.ĭr. When one’s gender identity does not match how they are treated by others, it can lead to psychological distress, she added. It’s also important to try to use a person’s correct name and pronouns, Dr. The term “genderqueer” can be used interchangeably with nonbinary, whereas “gender fluid” individuals have a gender identity that “is a bit more fluid, in that it can shift over time from one category to another,” she said. “Nonbinary” is a broader category than transgender, in that a nonbinary person “may identify as feeling both male and female, or neither,” Dr. It’s important to try to understand and use the terms an individual asks you to use, she said. When it comes to a person’s gender, “the language really matters,” said Laura Anderson, a child and family psychologist based in Hawaii who specializes in gender development. One helpful online resource is Gender Spectrum, a nonprofit organization that works to create gender sensitive and inclusive environments for kids and teens. You could also use the “ find a provider” tool through the World Professional Association for Transgender Health. If no gender clinics are nearby, reach out to a local chapter of PFLAG, an organization that supports lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) people, as there are chapters in every state. Some kids who receive this care do not undergo any medical or surgical treatments, he said. Gender-affirming care can involve various services, including therapy and primary care. One good option is a local gender clinic, which can offer gender-affirming care, Dr. In these cases, parents don’t need to do much other than to be supportive.īut if a child seems to be struggling with their body or in social settings, or wants a more significant life change, such as changing their pronouns or altering their body with hormones or surgery, consider finding additional support. Some want to do activities that aren’t typically associated with the gender they were assigned at birth, he added, and they are happy after they make these changes. “Some kids, they just want to dress in a different way,” he noted. Daniel Summers, a pediatrician in North Andover, Mass. If you have a child who is questioning their gender, follow their cues, said Dr. We interviewed child health care providers who focus on gender to understand the best ways that parents and other adults can offer support to adolescents on the gender spectrum. Still, experts think these decisions should be made by doctors, patients and their parents - not by governors or state agencies. There does exist some disagreement among doctors and advocates of gender affirming care over which adolescents could benefit most from certain treatments. Research shows that they have better mental health outcomes when they have access to what doctors call gender affirming care, which can include mental health therapy and hormone treatments. These adolescents are becoming more vocal about their identities and experiences, as The Times found in a 2019 survey.Ĭhildren and teens who do not identify with their assigned gender can face higher rates of depression, suicide and self harm than other kids do. When researchers interviewed teens in Pittsburgh as part of a 2021 study, they found that nearly one in 10 did not identify as being exclusively male or female. teens identify as transgender, meaning that their gender identity does not match the gender they were assigned at birth. Opponents of the move swiftly responded, including President Biden, who described the decision as “cynical and dangerous.” Investigations of alleged abuse sparked by the order were temporarily halted last week after a state court ruled that the policy was “unconstitutional.”Īccording to a 2019 C.D.C. Greg Abbott of Texas declared last month that medical treatments given to transgender adolescents, including puberty-suppressing drugs and hormones, could be considered child abuse under state law. To hear more audio stories from publications like The New York Times, download Audm for iPhone or Android. ![]()
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