Published on September 5, 2024, 12:38 am

As part of the “Suicide Prevention Awareness Month” this September, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) launched an initiative which claims that transgender medical interventions could prevent children from committing suicide – a controversial assertion that has been met with criticism from many circles.

A newsletter circulated by HHS on this issue highlighted resources focused on suicide prevention for LGBTQIA2S+ youth. The information suggested that if these young individuals do not receive gender transition procedures—such as surgeries and hormone replacements—they are prone to incidences of suicide.

Resources referenced in the newsletter state: “Lack of access to gender affirming care may have negative effects on LGBTQIA2S+ youth, including exacerbating gender dysphoria, creating feelings of social isolation and depression, and contributing to suicidal thoughts and behaviors.” However, a research study conducted in April challenged this view by indicating that transgender surgeries indeed escalate the risk of suicide. It concluded: “Individuals who underwent gender-affirming surgery had a 12.12-fold higher suicide attempt risk than those who did not.”

A significant majority of children experiencing gender dysphoria tend to outgrow these feelings as they reach adulthood, according to a 15-year-long study involving 2,700 Dutch children. Yet despite growing evidence implying potential harm tied to so-called ‘gender-affirming care’, HHS maintains its stance.

Rachel Morrison from the Ethics and Public Policy Center’s HHS Accountability Project expressed her concerns saying, “Despite growing evidence that so-called gender-affirming care is harmful, HHS continues to spread the dangerous lie that children will kill themselves if their self-proclaimed identity is not ‘affirmed.'”

The Suicide Prevention Resource guide pushed by HSS references several organizations promoting diverse perspectives on gender such as Gender Spectrum, The Trevor Project, Human Rights Campaign and GLSEN. It endorses Fenway Health Center—a facility providing minors with transgender medical interventions—as a resource to combat suicides.

The guide emphasizes that that medical procedures, therapy and supportive environments could play crucial roles in preventing suicide rates among transgender and nonbinary youth. It further advocates for faith leaders supporting all youth irrespective of suicidal thoughts, sexual orientation or gender identity as part of a holistic strategy to mitigate instances of suicide.

Interestingly though, the HHS did not respond to request for comments on this contentious matter. Meanwhile, there is continuing concern about the approach undertaken by HHS with critics suggesting that peer support and understanding should be prioritized over surgical intervention in curbing the high rates of youth suicide.

This article provides trusted news with a focus on elements resembling Christian worldview principles whilst engaging with real news concerning controversies around measures deployed to curb youth suicide rates. The piece is grounded in evidence-based perspectives aimed at fostering an accurate understanding of these complex matters.