Mental health support for young people in schools
Evidence suggests that the decline of psychological wellbeing in schools has accelerated since the Covid-19 pandemic. How can we best support students individually and equitably?
A POSTnote describing hormone treatments that may be used to treat gender dysphoria in children and young people. It summarises the evidence on their safety and effectiveness, and highlights stakeholder perspectives.
Hormone Treatments for Children and Young People with Gender Dysphoria (375 KB , PDF)
DOI: https://doi.org/10.58248/PB55
In recent years, demand for access to specialist gender identity services in the NHS by children and young people has increased. Some children and young people may receive hormones as part of a treatment plan for gender dysphoria.
Gender dysphoria refers to psychological distress from an incongruence between sex registered at birth and gender identity. To meet criteria for a medical diagnosis, the dysphoria must be associated with several factors, including, significant distress or impairment in daily life.
This POSTnote describes the hormone treatments used in the treatment of gender dysphoria, and summarises the evidence on the safety and the outcomes for children and young people. It also highlights stakeholder perspectives and recent legal cases.
POSTbrief 53, published in August 2023, discusses the factors that shape gender incongruence and gender dysphoria, and the impacts on health services.
POSTbriefs are based on literature reviews and interviews with a range of stakeholders and are externally peer reviewed. POST would like to thank interviewees and peer reviewers for kindly giving up their time during the preparation of this briefing, including:
Members of the POST Board*
Dr Katie Alcock, Lancaster University
Professor Susan Bewley, King’s College London*
British Psychological Society
Cass Review Team*
Professor Annelou de Vries, Amsterdam University Medical Centres
Gendered Intelligence
Professor Simona Giordano, University of Manchester*
LGBT Foundation*
Dr Una Masic, Gender Plus*
Mermaids*
Alex Ruck-Keene KC, 39 Essex Chambers*
Transgender Trend*
Dr Claudia Zitz, Gender Plus*
*Denotes people and organisations who acted as external reviewers of the briefing.
Hormone Treatments for Children and Young People with Gender Dysphoria (375 KB , PDF)
Evidence suggests that the decline of psychological wellbeing in schools has accelerated since the Covid-19 pandemic. How can we best support students individually and equitably?
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