The average age a trans person first experiences gender dysphoria is

7 years old

which is only about 2 years after the average age of their first memory in general.

“…[C]linical management including puberty suppression, enabled these formerly gender dysphoric adolescents to

make important age appropriate developmental transitions,

contributing to a satisfactory quality of life.”

(de Vries, 2010)

Listen to your child.

Ask them what they want to do. They are not becoming a different person, even if their name, pronouns, or body changes. Encourage them to share how they are feeling with you. Coming out to you means that they trust you and want your support, and giving your support to them is the best way to show that you love them.

A meta-analysis of transgender people who transitioned medically demonstrated that the average reduction in suicidality went from

30% pre-treatment to 8% post-treatment,

and that 78% of transgender people had

improved psychological functioning after treatment.

(Murad, et al., 2010)

In a cross-sectional study of 141 transgender patients who accessed medical transition, suicide fell from

19% to 0% in transgender men

and from

24% to 6% in transgender women.

(Kuiper, Cohen-Kettenis, 1988)

“Studies show that there is

less than 1% of regrets,

and a little more than 1% of suicides among operated subjects.

The empirical research does not confirm the opinion that suicide is strongly associated with surgical transformation.”

(Michel, et al., 2002)

Suicide rates dropped from

29.3% to 5.1%

when there was access to transition-related treatment.

(De Cuypere, et al., 2006)

86% of patients

who accessed transition were assessed by clinicians at follow-up as stable or improved in global functioning.

(Johansson, et al., 2010)

“Although more evidence would be welcome, adequately treated gender dysphoria is likely to be safer than the untreated condition, which is associated with an enhanced risk of depression and suicide.

Reassuringly, few transsexuals regret undergoing treatment.”

(Levy, et al., 2003)

“Second to social support, persons who endorsed having had some form of gender affirmative surgery were significantly more likely to present with

lower symptoms of depression.”

(Boza, et al., 2014)

The University of Texas at Austin found that when transgender youth are allowed to use their preferred name and pronoun in places such as work, school and at home, their rates of depression and suicide

drop 71%.

(Russell, et al., 2018)