Gender Dysphoria Case Study

In a recent study, it was shown that when transgender children are supported by their families their mental health is considerably better than the mental health of abused transgender children. Transgender and gender non-conforming individuals typically have elevated rates of anxiety and depression, but when children’s identities are affirmed and supported by their families children grow up to be mentally sound (Demeules, et al.). Considering the fact that trans* people are at a higher risk of committing suicide due to a lack of approval (LGBTQ), it makes sense to support the next generation. The lives of transgender and gender non-conforming students are strongly affected by deeply rooted prejudice, which can lead to an increase in bullying,

One mental illness many trans* people suffer from is gender dysphoria, which is unease and general dissatisfaction with one’s biological sex. Often gender dysphoria results in anxiety and depression and is typically the catalyst for trans* people to change their bodies or gender expression to match their gender identity. Gender dysphoria is very hard for many people to deal with, especially because it is often coupled with other mental health conditions. It is sometimes hard for dysphoric people to seek other mental health treatments when resolving their gender dysphoria is their top priority (Kaplan). There are other mental illnesses that require treatment though, and they manifest in many transgender and gender non-conforming people. For example, LGBT people are three times more likely to experience a mental health condition like generalized anxiety disorder or major depression than cisgender people. Trans* teens are also six times more likely to experience symptoms of depression than the general population. LGBT teens also struggle more than average with substance abuse. Twenty-five percent of LGBT people abuse alcohol, while only 5-10% of the general population does. There are clearly a lot of mental health problems that can manifest in transgender and gender nonconforming people, but the biggest issue is possibly the staggeringly high suicide rates. The main cause of death in LGBT youth ages 10-24 is suicide, and these children are four times more likely to attempt suicide, self-harm, or have suicidal ideation than any other community of people. Between 38 and 65% of trans* individuals experience suicidal ideation (LGBTQ). Suicide rates for transgender and gender non-conforming people are twenty-five times the national average. Forty-one percent of trans* people reported attempting suicide; the national average suicide rate is 1.6% (Bullying of and Violence toward