Gender-affirming care is safe and effective. Access to gender-affirming care — including supportive primary care, mental healthcare and general healthcare, is linked to better health outcomes for trans, Two-Spirit and non-binary youth.
Trans, Two-Spirit and non-binary youth and their families, friends and care providers often comment on how gender-affirming care is life saving. This is reflected both in evidence-based research and through first-hand accounts of people with lived experience.
We know that trans, Two-Spirit and non-binary youth experience unique challenges accessing healthcare due to our systems and society being created without their needs in mind. These challenges can make it hard for youth to open up and have conversations with their providers about their gender and gender-related health needs. There is still the need for providers to gain more familiarity and comfort in talking about gender. Youth often report fear of discrimination and prior negative experiences getting in the way of talking about gender. For some youth, especially in rural and remote locations, logistical challenges, including transportation and a lack of affirming providers, make accessing healthcare even harder.
Supporting trans, Two-Spirit and non-binary young people means helping them safely access the care they need — when they need it. Delays in support can negatively impact youth. The actions we take to reduce barriers to care and information can make a major difference to a gender diverse youth who needs timely care.