Thinking of the Children

 Let’s talk about protecting children from harm. I like to think that is an idea most people can get behind. In particular, I want to talk about one of the biggest dangers facing young people these days. It isn’t drugs or tiktok challenges. It is suicide.

Can we all agree that young people killing themselves is a bad thing? Seems like a pretty low bar to clear saying that children and teens committing suicide is universally bad. Really, if you can’t agree to that, just stop reading now. For the rest of us, I just want to start at a very basic premise: anything that stops a young person from killing themself is a good thing unless you can show evidence that it somehow creates a greater harm. 

Suicide is a pretty multifaceted issue. There are many causes, and not all can be treated the same way. Some people have deep seated mental health issues. Others are dealing with trama. Others are suffering the effects of socio-economic issues. I am not going to try and tackle all possible causes here. Instead, I want to zero in on something specific that we can do that will definitely help.

Suicide is one of the leading causes of death for young people. However, for some groups risk of suicide is four times greater than their peers. On average more than 50% of this group will contemplate suicide, with aproximately 20% attempting suicide. Compounding the issue is that a majority cannot access mental health services that they desire. But the saddest part is that most of these could be easily prevented.

Does this make you sad? What about angry? I hope, that maybe it makes you determined. Knowing that there are young people that could be in this group should make you want to help, to do something to stop it. Does it? Are you willing to fight like Hell to stop a teenager from ending their life? Because you can do that. This is not one of those problems that is so big that one person cannot do anything. While it would take society as a whole to stop it completely, YOU can actually help. So let’s look at how we can help these youths live long enough to be adults. 

Research shows that this group can have its suicide rate drastically reduce just by having adults in their lives that accept them for who they are. Call them by their names, giving them agency to live how they want to. Showing them support and making them feel welcomed and safe. Protecting them from bullying and abuse. These young people are LGBT youths, especially trans youths.

Trans youths do not commit suicide because they are inherently mentally unstable. They commit suicide because of social ostracization, bullying, and abuse. Trans youth often live in fear of being physically, mentally, or sexually assaulted. They experience all of these things at much higher rates than their peers. They can be taunted online and at school. At home they might be beaten. And because they are desperate to find acceptance that makes them more vulnerable to sexual assault and exploitation. They are also more likely to suffer aggravating factors such as being homeless after being forced out of their homes.

Many are subject to conversion therapy. This is abuse that is disguised as mental help to convince them that they are not trans, gay, etc. However, major medical and psychological organizations agree that it is completely ineffective. Even worse, it increases the likelihood of suicide by 13.8%.

In contrast gender affirming care lowers suicide rates by 14%. Gender affirming care includes a wide range of practices. Social transition includes using preferred names and pronouns. There is also the use of puberty blockers or hormone therapy. Keep in mind that these treatments have a long history of medical use and are not limited to trans youth. They are used in other forms of medical care and in most cases their effects can be easily reversed simply by ending the therapy. As to surgery, it is extremely rare for gender reassignment surgery to be performed on youths. In those rare cases, it is usually chest (top) surgery to create or reduce breasts.

And if all that sounds like politics to you, well it is a child’s life on the line. Maybe you think being transgender does not make any sense and can’t wrap your mind around. Fine, it doesn’t have to. It makes sense to trans individuals, and it makes sense to the medical professionals that treat them. So you can do what it takes to help these young people, even if you are uncomfortable with it, or you can stand on the graves of children that were sacrificed for a culture war. States that have introduced various anti-trans laws have seen rising suicide rates.

I said earlier that you can personally help. That was no joke. Having an accepting adult in their life can reduce the likelihood of suicide by 40% for LGBT youth. So if you know a young person like this, you can reach out and let them know that they are accepted.

You can also donate to the Trevor Project. https://www.thetrevorproject.org/