Based on a review of more than 60 studies related to the mental health of adolescents, the American College of Pediatricians (ACPeds) has concluded that social transition, puberty blockers, and cross-sex hormones “have no demonstrable, long-term benefit on psychosocial well-being of adolescents with gender dysphoria.”
ACPeds President Dr. Michael Artigues said the organization’s review of the referenced research points to “what many who practice medicine intuitively understand, that young patients experiencing gender dysphoria deserve help in accepting and loving themselves as they are, not interventions that destroy their healthy bodies and put them on track of medicalization for life.”
The principal authors of the research review, led by ACPeds Vice President Jane Anderson, expressed their grave concern.
They said “that parents, along with health care and educational professionals who support the transgender ‘transition’ of children and adolescents are, in fact, contributing to increased depression.
“They do this by appearing to validate to the children that ‘something is wrong with their body and biological sex.’”
The paediatricians concluded that “there is no long-term evidence that current ‘gender affirming’ medication and surgical protocols benefit their mental well-being.
“High rates of suicide attempts and/or completions in those who have received ‘gender affirming’ interventions indicate that at minimum, long-term controlled trials should be conducted if these interventions are to be continued.”
In lieu of social affirmation, medical intervention, or surgical mutilation of children and adolescents identifying as transgender or gender nonconforming, the pediatricians recommended:
That “intensive psychotherapy for the individual and family to determine and hopefully treat the underlying etiology of their gender incongruence.”
The pediatricians also said “more attention and support should be afforded to individuals seeking help in detransitioning after having made a decision during their formative adolescent years with lifelong consequences.”
“We urge medical professionals and parents to affirm the truth about childhood gender dysphoria in the presence of harmful thoughts and address the underlying mental illness, adverse events, and family dysfunction,” Anderson emphasised.
Burgeoning mental illness
Youth who identify as a gender other than their biological sex have high rates of mental health issues “regardless of any affirmation of their gender identities,” the group said.
“This is particularly serious given the exponential increase in the number of adolescents identifying as ‘transgender’ in the past decade,” they continued. Continue reading
- Joseph Bukuras is a journalist at the Catholic News Agency.
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