Advocates say the research highlights the dangerous effect of recent legislative efforts to ban #gender-affirming medical care for #transgender minors. Photo by Sharon McCutcheon on Pexels.com By Jo Yurcaba #Gender-affirming #hormonetherapy is strongly linked to a lower risk of #suicide and #depression for #transgender #youths, according to the first large-scale study to examine the issue. The research, published Tuesday in the Journal of #Adolescent Health, was based on a sample of more than 9,000 #transgender and #nonbinary #youths from the ages of 13 to 24 who provided data on #hormonetherapy as part of an online survey conducted last year by #TheTrevorProject, an #LGBTQ #youth #suicideprevention and crisis intervention group. Young people receiving #gender-affirming hormones reported a lower likelihood of experiencing recent #depression and considering #suicide compared to those who wanted but did not receive hormone therapy. For people under age 18, receiving hormones was associated with nearly 40 percent lower odds of recent #depression and of a past-year #suicideattempt.  “It’s clear that #gender-affirming care has the potential to reduce rates of #depression and #suicideattempts while banning this vital care and exposing young people to harmful political rhetoric can cause real harm,” Amit Paley, CEO and executive director of #TheTrevorProject, said in a statement. “It’s critical that all #transgender and #nonbinary #youth across the country have access to medical care that is affirming, #patient-centered, and evidence-based." More than 20 states have considered bills aiming to ban #gender-affirming health care for #transgender minors this year alone. Only Arkansas has passed a law completely banning access to #gender-affirming #healthcare, including puberty blockers and hormones, for #trans minors, but a judge blocked that law from taking effect in July pending the outcome of litigation. Tennessee enacted a more limited law that bans #doctors from providing #gender-affirming hormone treatment and surgery to prepubescent minors. Some #transgender and #nonbinary people receive #hormonetherapy — which can include hormones such as estrogen, testosterone and other medications — to align their appearance and secondary sex characteristics with their #genderidentity. #Hormonetherapy is also used to treat many other conditions and illnesses, including cancer, precocious puberty and the symptoms of menopause. The World Professional Association for #Transgender Health, widely considered the leading international body in #transgender #healthcare, doesn’t recommend starting #hormonetherapy until an individual reaches the age of legal majority, usually 18. In some cases, the association recommends #hormonetherapy for younger #teens. #James Donaldson notes: Welcome to the “next chapter” of my life… being a voice and an advocate for #mentalhealthawarenessandsuicideprevention, especially pertaining to our younger generation of students and student-athletes. Getting men to speak up and reach out for help and assistance is one of my passions. Us men need to not suffer in silence or drown our sorrows in alcohol, hang out at bars and strip joints, or get involved with drug use. Having gone through a recent bout of #depression and #suicidalthoughts myself, I realize now, that I can make a huge difference in the lives of so many by sharing my story, and by sharing various resources I come across as I work in this space.  #http://bit.ly/JamesMentalHealthArticle Order your copy of James Donaldson's latest book, Celebrating Your Gift of Life: From The Verge of Suicide to a Life of Purpose and Joy http://www.celebratingyourgiftoflife.com On average, the young people sampled in #TheTrevorProject’s study were just over 17 and a half years old. This latest study adds to growing evidence that #gender-affirming care can improve #transgender youths' #mentalhealth. A study published in the journal Pediatrics last year found that #transgender people who received puberty blockers during #adolescence had a lower risk of #suicidalthoughts as #adults than those who wanted but could not access the medication. Another study, also published in Pediatrics last year, found that #trans #children who receive #gender-affirming medical care earlier in their lives are less likely to experience poor #mentalhealth, such as #depression and #anxiety. #TheTrevorProject has previously found that #transgender and #nonbinary #youths have an elevated risk of #depression, thoughts of #suicide and attempting #suicide compared to #youth who are #cisgender and straight. A survey that the group conducted last year found that 52 percent of #trans and #nonbinary youths seriously considered #suicide in the past year, and 20 percent reported attempting #suicide, compared to 32 percent and 10 percent of #cisgender #LGBQ #youth. “This study emphasizes the potential benefits of #gender-affirming #hormonetherapy as a mechanism to reduce feelings of #genderdysphoria and #minority #stress among #transgender and #nonbinary #youth — #thereby working to improve #mentalhealth outcomes and prevent #suicide,” Amy Green, a clinical #psychologist and the vice president of research at #TheTrevorProject, said in a statement. “These data should serve as a call to action to resist blanket bans on #gender-affirming medical care and to invest in more research on this topic so that #youth and their families can make evidence-informed decisions regarding care.”  Though more research is finding that access to #gender-affirming #healthcare such as puberty blockers and #hormonetherapy is beneficial to #trans youths' #mentalhealth and overall well-being, not all who want it are able to access it. Half of the #transgender and #nonbinary #youth surveyed by #TheTrevorProject said they were not receiving #gender-affirming #hormonetherapy but would like to, while 36 percent were not interested in receiving it and 14 percent were already receiving it. The research found that young people living in the South, #youthofcolor and #nonbinary respondents were underrepresented among those who received #gender-affirming #hormonetherapy when they desired it. Whether a #youth has parental support also affects their access: The study found that 80 percent of those who received hormone therapy reported that they had at least one #parent who supported their gender identity. If you or someone you know is at risk of #suicide, please call the #NationalSuicidePreventionLifeline at 800-273-8255, text TALK to 741741 or visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for additional resources. Photo by Sharon McCutcheon on Pexels.com
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