Treating Young People
Help for young people who are unsupported.
Every day at GenderGP we hear from young people who are lucky enough to have the support of their families and loved ones.
We never get tired of knowing we’ve been able to help make a difference to a young person’s life and that they’re able to go out into the world confident about who they are, because they have access to the care they need.
Sadly however, it’s a common reality that not every young person is supported in their transition. We appreciate that there are often complex reasons why this might be the case, and that no two individual’s circumstances are the same.
We hope that all young people who are using our medical services are supported by a guardian, however, if you are a young person who does not have this support network in place, we still want to help you to achieve your goals.
At GenderGP we treat every case individually and while we differentiate between a child (a pre pubertal individual who does not need any medical intervention) and an adolescent (pubertal and as such potentially requiring support in the form of puberty blocking medication and gender affirming hormones) we take the same stance as the NHS when it comes to treating younger people:
Children under the age of 16 can consent to their own treatment if they’re believed to have enough intelligence, competence and understanding to fully appreciate what’s involved in their treatment. This is known as being Gillick competent.
Otherwise, someone with parental responsibility can consent for them.
This could be:
- the child’s mother or father
- the child’s legally appointed guardian
- a person with a residence order concerning the child
- a local authority designated to care for the child
- a local authority or person with an emergency protection order for the child
We are available to give guidance and comfort and we have an excellent team of therapists, many of whom have a great deal of experience in helping younger individuals and any parents who may be struggling to understand gender identity.
If you find yourself in a situation where you’re not able to rely on a close member of your family or a carer to support you, there are also a number of additional resources available that might be able to offer support. Places where young folks can chat with experts, engage with peers, join support groups, and access support phone lines and chat.
For further support for young people
Gendered Intelligence
Understanding gender diversity in creative ways.
Youth groups, workshops, trips and other support for young gender diverse people and their families.
Mermaids
Helping gender-diverse kids, young people and their families.
Loads of information for young gender diverse people and their families. With a helpline, Web Chat and Text Chat.
Belong To
Supporting Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Trans young people in Ireland.
Youth groups, on to one support and counselling for young people.
Young Minds
24/7 messenger support for young people experiencing a mental health crisis.
Childline
Online or on the phone help for young people.
