Adolescents face many emotional and physical changes as they go through puberty. Transgender teens experience additional adolescent distress because the changes their bodies go through during puberty do not align with their gender identities. Feeling as though their gender assigned at birth does not match the gender they identify with, transgender youth describe having gender dysphoria as “feeling like they are in the wrong body.”  

It’s reported that transgender people are nearly four times more likely than their cisgender (people whose gender identity corresponds with their sex as assigned at birth) counterparts to experience a mental health condition. Transgender children and teens are often the recipients of relentless bullying, neglect or rejection by peers and family. This can lead them to experience more trauma and mental health distress.  

Additionally, the lack of awareness and professional support for transgender youth increases the development of mental health disorders that can heighten to the point of suicidal ideation. Depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are among the challenges young members of the transgender community face. Receiving life-saving mental health treatment, as well as gender affirming care, is critical for transgender youth to lead happier lives and develop into healthy adults.  

Signs and Symptoms of Mental Health Disorders in Transgender Youth 

It’s important to recognize the signs of mental health distress in your loved ones so they can receive the best care available and begin the road to healing.

Symptoms of depression in transgender youth include:

  • Sleep disturbance
  • Loss of interest in activities
  • Feelings of guilt and sadness
  • Loss of energy
  • Change in appetite
  • Psychomotor agitation
  • Loss of energy
  • Suicidal ideations

Symptoms of anxiety in transgender youth include:

  • Excessive worry
  • Restlessness or an inability to relax
  • Accelerated heart rate
  • Agitation or irritability
  • Sweatiness, weakness or trembling
  • Ongoing insomnia
  • Panic attacks
  • Feelings of impending doom or dread
  • Fatigue
  • Seemingly irrational fears
  • Avoidance of triggering situations or environments
  • Decreased ability to concentrate

Bullying & Transgender Youth 

According to a 2021 survey by The Trevor Project, 61% of gender and nonbinary students reported being bullied over the course of a year. Bullying causes fear, sadness, emotional instability, a fight-or-flight response, social isolation and low self-esteem. These factors contribute to the development of depression, anxiety and an increase in suicidal tendencies. In fact, 32% of students who were bullied reported attempting suicide while 14% reported attempting suicide without being bullied. These grim statistics are an eye-opening realization of the damaging effects of bullying. 

Substance Use & Transgender Youth 

As a way of self-medicating or trying to cope with emotional and physical changes they endure on top of bullying, transgender youths may misuse substances like alcohol, marijuana and illicit drugs. When substances are used habitually, a dependency is created in the body. Substance use disorders can develop and compound mental health issues. As a result, treatment for co-occurring disorders is necessary to safely detox and learn new coping skills going forward.

Limited Access to Care for Transgender Youth 

Transgender youth often struggle alone. This is especially true  with the passing of hundreds of anti-LGBTQ+ bills across the United States. Due to societal stigma, transgender individuals are being discriminated against. With these bills, many say that human and civil rights are being ignored and denied by authority figures in schools and medical professionals. In turn, this has caused a critical demand in access to mental health treatment and gender affirming care for transgender youth.

What is Gender Affirming Care? 

Gender affirming care is a combination of psychological and medical techniques aimed at helping transgender people live more authentically. Treatment programs may include hormone therapy, surgeries and/or talk therapy. When a minor seeks gender affirming care, they do so with the consent of their guardian. Therapists work with patients to increase their self-esteem and validate their self-worth and often include guardians in group sessions.

If minors are prescribed estrogen or testosterone blockers, or if they have top surgery or genital surgery, they can emerge with an immense sense of relief, self-love, acceptance and joy. No longer deeply uncomfortable in their own skin, transgender youth may finally feel relief to re-enter the world with a physique, pronouns and name that aligns with their identity.

Negative mental health outcomes like depression, anxiety and suicidal ideation due to previous stigma, discrimination and lack of gender affirmation tend to decrease after gender affirming care. Feelings of worry, fear, self-doubt and self-loathing are negated when transgender youth can express their true selves. Being in a supportive, gender-diverse and accepting environment is immensely helpful when going through treatment.

Mental Health Treatment  

The needs of transgender youth are great and should not be ignored, especially when they are struggling with a mental health disorder. If your child is showing signs of a mental health condition, please don’t hesitate to contact us for compassionate care at Discovery Mood & Anxiety today.

Related Reading from Discovery Mood & Anxiety Program

References