Calls to Childline over gender fears triple in 3 years
THE number of children who have called a charity helpline for counselling about their gender identity has nearly tripled in three years, the NSPCC said yesterday.
Childline carried out 2,796 transgender counselling sessions in the year to March – an average of eight a day and a huge increase on the 1,102 in the year to March 2013.
The total included 185 discussions with young people from Scotland.
Most youngsters receiving help across the UK were aged between 12 and 15, but the NSPCC said it also gave more than 260 advice sessions to 11-year-olds.
The charity, which runs Childline, said the transgender issue had attracted greater public attention in recent years and children felt more confident to come forward about their feelings.
It added: ‘Young trans people told Childline that lengthy wait- ing times, a dearth of services and NHS staff lacking understanding all contributed to their mental health problems, including suicidal thoughts.’
But critics warned that adults should avoid leading young children who may have minor problems or doubts into believing that they needed to change sex.
Jill Kirby, an author and researcher on the family, said: ‘We should be concerned at this outbreak of counselling, and taking a hard look at what is being suggested to these children, who may be experiencing different ideas about their identity as part of growing up.
‘There is a risk that children may be led into paths that they later regret. We should be particularly concerned at the possibility that counselling children may lead to drug treatment and the dangers that could entail.’
Latest figures from the only transgender clinic for youngsters, London’s Tavistock and Portman Trust, showed the number of children referred doubled to 1,400 in a year. The trust has trained 30 new staff since the summer to cope with the increasing number of cases.
The NSPCC said young people who contacted Childline ‘described feeling “trapped in the wrong body” and frustrated that they could not escape their biological sex’.
It added: ‘Young trans people frequently told us they had suicidal thoughts, self-harmed, or suffered from mental health issues, which often stemmed
‘Left feeling desperate’
from abuse, bullying, and a lack of support.
‘Transphobic bullying often stopped young people from speaking out. When they were honest about their gender identity many complained they received cruel abuse which left them feeling desperate.’
Homophobic bullying, which included transphobic abuse, was mentioned in 450 counselling sessions last year, the charity said.
Matt Forde, national head of service for NSPCC Scotland, said: ‘We cannot call ourselves a modern society if we stigmatise children just because they feel different.
‘It is vital that children have support, otherwise, as they tell us all too often, they suffer.
‘When a child is made to feel ashamed about who they are, it can trigger serious mental health issues and crippling shame.’
NSPCC chief executive Peter Wanless said: ‘Adults must support a child as they explore what they’re feeling and guide them to get the right help when necessary.’