Many reputable studies have been done on the positive impacts of receiving gender-affirming care. Below are a few of relevance.
Mental Health Outcomes in Transgender and Nonbinary Youths
Receiving Gender-Affirming Care
A 2022 study published in the Journal of American Medicine Network compared 104 trangender and nonbinary youth, in which one study group started puberty blockers or affirming hormones, while the other group did not. Over a 12 month period, participants who received puberty blockers or affirming hormones experienced 60% lower odds of depression and 73% lower odds of suicidality.
The researchers cited the importance of this study stating,
Transgender and nonbinary (TNB) youths are disproportionately burdened by poor mental health outcomes owing to decreased social support and increased stigma and discrimination.
Source: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2789423
Reduction in Mental Health Treatment Utilization Among Transgender Individuals After Gender-Affirming Surgeries: A Total Population Study
A 2019 study published in the American Journal of Psychiatry followed 2,679 individuals over a 10-year time period (i.e., long-term data); annually tracking participants who had gender-affirmative surgery. The study found the need for mental health treatment reduced 8% every year since the participant had the surgery. Note: They did not find the same association for hormone treatment.
According to the researchers
Compared with the general population, individuals with a gender incongruence diagnosis were about six times as likely to have had a mood and anxiety disorder health care visit, more than three times as likely to have received prescriptions for antidepressants and anxiolytics, and more than six times as likely to have been hospitalized after a suicide attempt.
Source: https://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/doi/10.1176/appi.ajp.2019.19010080
Association Between Gender-Affirming Surgeries and Mental Health Outcomes
A 2021 study published in the Journal of American Medicine Network asked the question:
Are gender-affirming surgeries associated with better mental health outcomes among transgender and gender diverse (TGD) people?
In this study of 20,000 adults who wanted gender-affirming surgery, researchers compared participants who were able to get the surgery to those who were not. Researchers found those who had surgery experienced 42% lower psychological distress, and suicidal ideation was reduced by 44%.
Source: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamasurgery/article-abstract/2779429
Additional Sources
