The issue of health care for transgender children has been a topic of debate, particularly in the United States where many states are restricting access to care for these individuals. A new report from the UK, known as the Cass Review, suggests that much of the evidence that doctors rely on to treat transgender kids is weak. This raises questions about the best approach to health care for transgender children. To address these issues, Professor Stephen Russell, Dr. Cal Horton, and Dr. Ada Cheung provide insights into the science behind transgender health care.
For those seeking mental health resources, including suicide lifelines, there are options available worldwide. The Trans Lifeline offers peer support through their hotline at 1-877-565-8860, while the Trevor Project provides crisis support services to LGBTQ young people through their hotline at 1-866-488-7386 or text service by texting ‘START’ to 678-678. Additionally, listeners can find a transcript of the episode and links to previous episodes related to transgender health care and misinformation.
In this episode, the podcast explores various aspects of care for transgender children, including the challenges surrounding their treatment, the impact of puberty blockers on mental health, the effects of hormone therapy on mental health, and the frequency of people “retransitioning.” The episode was produced by Meryl Horn and Wendy Zukerman, edited by Blythe Terrell, fact-checked by Eva Dasher, consulted by Rebecca Kling, and mixed and sound designed by Bobby Lord. The music was composed by Bobby Lord, Bumi Hidaka, and Peter Leonard. The podcast expresses gratitude to all the researchers and individuals who contributed to the episode.
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