Last updated on March 7th, 2024 at 05:38 am
A thorough study conducted by researchers in Finland suggests that administering transgender drugs or surgeries to adolescents does not alleviate the underlying mental health problems commonly faced by this demographic. The research disputes the assertion by certain lawmakers and transgender activists that puberty-blocking drugs and gender reassignment surgeries are “life-saving medicine,” showing no significant reduction in suicides among these adolescents.
The study scrutinized mortality rates, including suicide rates, of individuals under 23 who sought psychiatric assistance for gender-identity issues between 1996 and 2019. It concluded that suicide was rare among these adolescents irrespective of whether they underwent hormone treatment or surgical interventions for gender reassignment.
The research highlights that adolescents grappling with gender-identity issues are often dealing with more profound psychological health problems contributing to the higher suicide rates in this group. Therefore, the lack of transgender drugs or surgeries may not be the primary reason for these suicide instances. Dr. Michael Artigues, President of the socially-conservative American College of Pediatricians, urged for aggressive treatment of these underlying mental health disorders rather than guiding children toward irreversible transgender treatments.
With ongoing debates in Western countries about whether transgender-identifying children should access such treatments, this study sheds new light on the issue. While some countries allow only adults to undergo gender reassignment surgeries, there are fewer restrictions in parts of the United States. Crucially, this research challenges a commonly held belief that these drugs and surgeries prevent suicides among gender-dysphoric young people. Instead, it asserts that a tap into psychotherapy and mental health treatments promises more effective outcomes.