Study: Gender Affirming Care Reduces Depression & Suicide in Youth

by | Dec 16, 2021 | Trans Youth

Study: Gender Affirming Care Reduces Depression & Suicide in Youth

A new major large-scale peer-reviewed study strongly supports the gender-affirming care for trans youth.

It finds, that there is a significant relationship between access to Gender Affirming Hormone Therapy (GAHT) and lower rates of depression and suicidality.

The project studied affirmative care practices amongst transgender and nonbinary youth.

 

How Gender Affirming Care Works
Reducing Suicidality and Depression In Trans and Non-Binary Youth

The study was conducted by academics from the Trevor Project. The Trevor Project is the world’s largest suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization for LGBTQ young people.

Here, they looked at the data of the almost 12,000 transgender or nonbinary youth from a 2020 survey of just under 35,000 lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning youth aged 13 to 24.

 

Read the study in full

 

The Trevor Project’s Gender Affirming Care Study on Depression and Suicide for Trans Youth
It Confirms What We Know:

 

That timely gender-affirming interventions massively improve outcomes for young trans and gender diverse people.

(Trevor Project. 2021)

 

Gender Affirming Care With Trans and Non Binary Youth: Study Findings

  • Half of the transgender and nonbinary youth said they were not using gender-affirming hormone therapy but would like to receive it
  • Only 14% of transgender and non-binary youth said were receiving any kind of GAHT
  • The use of GAHT was associated with lower odds of the recent depression
  • The use of GAHT significantly reduces the odds of transgender and non-binary youth seriously considering suicide in comparison to those who wanted GAHT but did not receive it
  • Nearly 80% of those who received GAHT reporting they had at least one parent who supported their gender identity
  • The greater proportion of those not receiving GAHT but wanted to were non-binary people.
  • Young trans or non-binary people of colour are more likley than their white counterparts not to receive GAHT even though they wanted to receive it

 

We Offer Gender Affirming Healthcare For Young People

 

Conclusion
Gender Affirming Care Reduces Gender Dysphoria, Suicidality, and Depression

With this in mind, it’s important to note that person-focused care is paramount. By listening, engaging, and being there for people we can provide the best life experience possible.

This study does a wonderful job of holistically representing the current state and demands of transgender and non-binary healthcare.

In essence, we all must do more to ensure that all aspects of LGBT+ healthcare are inclusive, patient-focused, and destigmatized.

If you want to know more about how we can help young people you can ask our team, or if you’d like to share your story, you can find us on Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook.

 

 

Author:

Adi is our Current Affairs Lead, she is responsible for monitoring the landscape and ensuring we are connected to what’s going on in the community, as it happens. Adi’s background is in business development and customer services. She is particularly interested in finding solutions to the challenges faced by gender diverse communities when accessing timely and supportive healthcare. Adi is a trans peer mentor for a London Charity, involved in grass-roots Athletics Advocacy and has even strayed into supporting political candidates lobbying for the right to cleaner air for all. Adi has climbed the same volcano multiple times but never quite had the heart to look over into the fiery pit of lava.

 

Photo by Julia M Cameron from Pexels