Huge rise in transgender teens seeking help on NHS

THE number of teenagers asking for medical help because they have difficulties with their gender identity has risen fivefold over five years, according to figures released yesterday.

Nearly 700 under- 18s were referred last year to the NHS clinic that treats young transgender people, an increase of almost 50 per cent in a year.

The rise was attributed to growing recognition of gender dysphoria, the distress someone feels when there is a mismatch between their biological sex and their gender identity.

The specialist Tavistock and Portman Trust said the increase was a result of greater NHS attention to gender dysphoria and growing inter- est among young people in gender politics. It said that, in the year that ended in March, there were 697 referrals to the clinic’s Gender Identity Development Service, which treats under-18s. That compares with 139 in 2011, 208 in 2012, 314 in 2013 and 468 in 2014.

The totals included young people who have had difficulties with gender development and who have been referred to the clinic by GPs, medical specialists and schools.

‘Some of the young people we see here will fulfil the criteria for a diagnosis of gender dysphoria,’ the clinic said. ‘This is a complex and rare condition where there is incongruence between the young person’s perceived gender identity and their natal sex.

‘Gender dysphoria is frequently associated with distress, which may increase at puberty.’

The rise in numbers of teenagers seeking help follows a similar increase in the scale of treatment for adults.

NHS England reported a 75 per cent rise in gender-reassignment medical procedures since 2002.

Many young people treated for gender identity difficulties are given medication that delays the onset of puberty to allow time before any decisions on sex-change procedures are taken. Doctors working in the field said it was important to keep up with demand for treatment because of the risk of self-harm and suicide among young people who did not get help.

Children have never been known to have sex- change surgery, although there is no law to prevent it. The NHS makes it clear that drugs and therapy are the preferred treatments, because in many cases teenagers decide to live according to their biological sex when they grow older.

The NHS Choices website states: ‘Most treatments at this stage are psychological, rather than medical or surgical. This is because the majority of children with suspected gender dysphoria do not have the condition once they have reached puberty.

Psychological support offers a chance to discuss their thoughts and receive support to help them cope with the emotional distress of the condition, without rushing into drastic treatments.’

Dr John Dean, of the National Clinical Reference Group, for Gender Identity Services told Sky News: ‘There are a number of studies that report evidence of suicide and selfharm among trans people who are unable to access care.’

‘Most treatments are psychological’