Things are really hard right now! All of us are grappling with abrupt changes to our routines, habits, and ways we connect to others. If you are a parent or guardian of a transgender teenager, it is possible that these shifts feel magnified and you maybe concerned about supporting your teen. Perhaps you have noticed some changes in behavior, such as sleeping too much or two little, loss of interest in what they used to like, or you are simply concerned about the isolation. What we do know, is that trans youth are more likely to be diagnosed with depression than their cisgender (i.e., non-transgender) peers, and experience up to three times the rate of suicidal thoughts of cisgender youth (Reisner et al., 2015).
The good news is, there are plenty of things that will help buffer and support teens as they grow into adulthood, such as helping the teen strengthen their self esteem, connecting with an affirming and supportive trusted adult, and connecting them with community-specific resources.
Self esteem is an important factor and internal support that teens can develop and strengthen in order to stay healthy mentally. Ways to help foster healthy self esteem in your teen include offering sincere praise for their efforts as well as their accomplishments, and to find ways of encouraging the teen’s own ability to make decisions and explore their talents.
Another protective support that we know helps transgender teenagers, is an accepting and affirming relationship with a trusted adult. That means, if you’re reading this, and you have a trans teen in your life, congratulations! You have the power to make a positive impact on that teen’s wellbeing.
In particular, “Transgender college students reported that support and acceptance by family improved their mental health and contributed to a positive sense of self; the types of support that were perceived as positive were asking questions to understand transgender experience & assisting with/affirming participants’ transition” (Johns et al. 2018). This may look like approaching your teen with a respectful curiosity, and inviting conversations around what different experiences are like for your teen.
That being said, it is normal if there are some things your teen may feel more comfortable discussing with peers than with a parent. Connecting transgender teens with community specific services is a wonderful support. Corliss et al. note, “transgender youth discussed how workshops and support groups for transgender people increased feeling of social support and added comfort with their identity” (2007). Groups where teens are able to connect with people who are similar to them, increases their comfort with their own identities and decreases their sense of isolation.
One such group is the Group for Transgender and Gender Questioning Teens, which is held virtually on Saturdays at 3:30. This group would be a wonderful fit for any transgender or gender questioning teens who are looking to develop more skills to handle the stresses of life, or who would like to work on their identity and becoming more comfortable in it.
These are just a few methods to help support your transgender teenager. For more information, or to sign up for the group, please contact Ashley Parks at ashley@bullcitypsychotherapy.com
References
Johns, Michelle Marie et al. “Protective Factors Among Transgender and Gender Variant Youth: A Systematic Review by Socioecological Level.” The journal of primary prevention vol. 39,3 (2018): 263-301. doi:10.1007/s10935-018-0508-9
Corliss HL, Belzer M, Forbes C, Wilson EC. An evaluation of service utilization among male to female transgender youth: Qualitative study of a clinic-based sample. Journal of LGBT Health Research. 2007;3(2):49–61.
Reisner S.L., Vetters, R., Leclerc, M., Zaslow, S., Wolfrum, S., Shumer, D., and Mimiaga, M.J. Mental health of transgender youth in care at an adolescent urban community health center: a matched retrospective cohort study. J Adolesc Health. 2015 Mar; 56(3):274-9.
