Transgender Youth – an Overview of Medical and Mental Health Needs of Gender Non-Conforming Children and Adults

Level: Advanced Practice

Credits: 3

Intended Audience: Lineworkers, Supervisors, Managers

Description of Course: Transgender youth are a vulnerable population with unique needs that span the professional arenas of medicine, mental health and law. Transgender youth are disproportionately represented among those youth experiencing homelessness, foster care, group home placement and incarceration. They are at increased risk for negative health outcomes including depression, anxiety, isolation, drug use, and sexually transmitted infections, including HIV. Timely and appropriate treatment for transgender youth undergoing phenotypic gender transition is critical for these young people to move forward and thrive in often hostile environments. This workshop will review the basic elements of providing comprehensive care for trans youth, including gender development, recognizing signs and symptoms of gender dypshoria, the impact of cis-gender normative environments on trans youth, mental health challenges commonly faced by trans youth, and the use of medications to facilitate gender transitions.

Intended Objectives:

• Learn and/or expand appropriate gender related language
• Gain insight into cisgender privilege, and how it affects gender non-conforming youth
• Understand the role of mental health providers in the care of transgender youth
• Learn how gender dysphoria presents in childhood and adolescence
• Understand the basics of puberty blockers and cross sex hormones for gender transition

Topics Include:

• The basic elements of providing comprehensive care for trans youth
• Signs and symptoms of gender dysphoria
• Impact if cis-gender normative environments on trans youth
• Mental Health challenges commonly faced by trans youth
• Medications to facilitate gender transitions