Mental health relates to a person’s emotional and psychological wellbeing and is just as important as physical health. Sometimes, poor mental health can even result in physical symptoms. Growing up is difficult enough on its own, but being transgender (closeted or not) and transitioning are added difficulties for transgender youth. These emotional strains can damage a person’s mental health, so it is important to be conscious of how your child is doing not only physically, but emotionally and psychologically.

Sometimes, mental health doesn’t always make sense. The things that upset people and really get to their cores are difficult to explain, perhaps even more so for children. Additionally, when a person’s mental health is damaged, it tends to make smaller problems larger and make everything more difficult to handle. It can be hard to be there to listen to and support your child if they are struggling with their mental health, especially if they are doing so poorly that it begins to impact their feelings toward you.

Therapy is always a good idea for transgender youth, because things can get hard to handle at times. It is good to have a mental health professional who knows your child when that happens. While therapy sounds like an expensive option to some, it doesn’t have to be expensive. There are low-cost, and sometimes even free, options available.

Trans mental health services

There are plenty of ways to find mental health services specifically for supporting transgender individuals, but sometimes it can take a bit of digging. If you are looking for a therapist or other mental health services, using one of the following search engines will be a good starting place:

• WPATH Find a Provider
• GLMA Equality Find a Provider

If you are having trouble identifying trans-friendly professionals to help with your mental health, please contact CHOP’s Gender and Sexuality Development Clinic team.

Your mental health is also very important. One of the best ways any parent can take care of their child is to take care of themselves, so that they will be available to help their child when it is needed. Raising a transgender child can be very difficult, stressful and tiring, especially with the learning curve that so often comes with it. It is OK to need some help or support for yourself and maintain your own mental health.

Some parents find that turning to support groups, either in person or online, is enough to help, while therapy works better for others. You can use the previously mentioned search engines to find a trans-friendly therapist, or go through your insurance to find a few options. If you feel that a support group may work better for you, feel free to contact us as we can provide recommendations for groups in your area.

If getting to a support group is difficult, Gender Spectrum offers online options for parents and youth.

If you are struggling to find a trans-friendly professional to help with your mental health, please contact CHOP’s Gender and Sexuality Development Clinic team.