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        Gender Diversity

        (redirected from Transgender)

        Not all children or teenagers identify with the gender they were assigned at birth. As a result, some may choose to change their name, their clothes or their body. With considerably higher rates of depression, anxiety, self-harm and attempted suicide, the need for specialist mental health services has been recognised.

        Discrimination and marginalisation related to gender identity can have a significant impact on mental wellbeing.

        headspace, Australia's National Youth Mental Health Foundation, says while not everyone experiences these challenges in their lives, the associated pressures can be overwhelming - especially when combined with managing school, forming relationships and making sense of your place in the world.

        Concerns have been raised after studies estimated that as many as 50 per cent of gender diverse and trans young people have reported attempting suicide.

        School can be a nurturing and protective place, where young people can be supported in being themselves and developing to their fullest potential - but experiences of exclusion, bullying, abuse or invalidation at school can be highly distressing. There is great potential for equipping schools with the knowledge, skills and attitudes to promote a positive culture of acceptance, to help them support and affirm gender diverse young people.

        While we do not yet know how common gender diversity and transgender is in Australia or worldwide, our researchers want to reassure young people and their parents that they are "not alone".

        In a New Zealand study of high school students 1.2 per cent said they were transgender and an additional 2.5 per cent said they were not sure about their gender. In WA, the Perth Children's Hospital gender diversity service receives around 120 referrals a year.

        Australian children's hospitals offer holistic support by highly-specialised gender diversity multidisciplinary teams, with experts in endocrinology, psychiatry, psychology, nursing, and fertility preservation. Services may include medical gender affirming treatment with puberty blockers and hormone therapy.

        * If a child or teenager has concerns regarding their gender identity, you can talk to your GP. Young people under the age of 18, who live in Western Australia, can be referred by their GP, Paediatrician or other health professional to the PCH Gender Diversity Service.

         See also: My child is trans - how do I support them?

        Our research impact

        Our researchers are strongly committed to improving the lives of gender diverse and trans individuals growing up in Australia. They are hard at work collecting research to better inform policies and health professionals and to advocate for high-quality service provision.

        They have conducted Australia's biggest survey of gender diverse young people to identify and break down barriers that exist in accessing mental health and other services. A total of 859 young people, aged 14-25, and 194 parents/guardians responded to the anonymous online Trans Pathways survey. It was conducted in partnership with the University of Western Australia, Curtin University, YouthLink and the Freedom Centre.

        Now our researchers will work with Australia's hospital-based gender diversity services to better understand the mental health of gender diverse youth and the effects of treatment offered.

        Trans Pathways

        Video

        Introducing Trans Pathways

        Introducing Trans Pathways

        Trans Pathways is the largest study ever in Australia of gender diverse young people and their mental health and care pathways. Researchers surveyed more than 850 young trans people (14-25 years old) and almost 200 parents of trans young people across Australia.

        Trans Pathways is the largest study ever conducted of the mental health and care pathways of trans and gender diverse young people in Australia (859 participants). It is also the first Australian study to incorporate the views of parents and guardians of trans young people (194 participants).

        Meet Drew - Our Trans Pathways Ambassador

        Video

        Meet Drew

        Meet Drew

        Drew is 16 years old. He came out as trans two years ago. This is his experience.

        Drew is 16 years old. He came out as trans two years ago. This is his experience.

        Additional resources

        The Freedom Centre
        A safe space for gender diverse young people. The drop-in centre is a place to hang out, have fun, meet other LGBTIQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Intersex, Queer, Questioning and otherwise diverse in their sexuality and/or gender) young people and get peer-support and information.

        headspace
        Young people aged 12-25 years can contact their local headspace centre for mental health support.

        YouthLink
        Young people aged 13-24 years can also contact YouthLink.

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