Gender Diversity

Discrimination and marginalisation related to gender identity can have a significant impact on mental wellbeing.

headspace, Australia's National Youth Mental Health Foundation, says while not everyone experiences these challenges in their lives, the associated pressures can be overwhelming - especially when combined with managing school, forming relationships and making sense of your place in the world.

Concerns have been raised after studies estimated that as many as 50 per cent of gender diverse and trans young people have reported attempting suicide.

School can be a nurturing and protective place, where young people can be supported in being themselves and developing to their fullest potential - but experiences of exclusion, bullying, abuse or invalidation at school can be highly distressing. There is great potential for equipping schools with the knowledge, skills and attitudes to promote a positive culture of acceptance, to help them support and affirm gender diverse young people.

While we do not yet know how common gender diversity and transgender is in Australia or worldwide, our researchers want to reassure young people and their parents that they are "not alone".

In a New Zealand study of high school students 1.2 per cent said they were transgender and an additional 2.5 per cent said they were not sure about their gender. In WA, the Perth Children's Hospital gender diversity service receives around 120 referrals a year.

Australian children's hospitals offer holistic support by highly-specialised gender diversity multidisciplinary teams, with experts in endocrinology, psychiatry, psychology, nursing, and fertility preservation. Services may include medical gender affirming treatment with puberty blockers and hormone therapy.

* If a child or teenager has concerns regarding their gender identity, you can talk to your GP. Young people under the age of 18, who live in Western Australia, can be referred by their GP, Paediatrician or other health professional to the PCH Gender Diversity Service.

 See also: My child is trans - how do I support them?