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The existing literature exploring the experiences of parenting a trans child tends toward reporting the challenging aspects of the parental journey. Studies also reference positive experiences such as enhanced parent-child connectedness and affirmation of personal values. Limited dedicated research focused on the positive aspects of parenting a trans child exists. We aimed to better understand positive parental experiences accordingly. Using data from a large cross-sectional survey, we explored parental responses (N = 134) to a single open-text question asking what parents had experienced as positive about parenting their trans child. We used the general inductive approach (GIA) to analyze data and report on common themes. Almost all parents identified at least one positive aspect; most cited multiple benefits. Five major themes emerged from the data: 1) Personal growth; 2) experiencing the strengths of the child; 3) improved aspects of the parent-child relationship; 4) positive change in the child; 5) experiencing social connection and support. Findings provide a nuanced addition to the literature on parental experiences and have clinical implications for those working with parents of trans children. A better understanding of positive parental experiences can aid clinicians in increasing parental support and acceptance for young people within an affirmative framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many trans young people seek mental health support and gender-affirming medical interventions including puberty suppression, gender-affirming hormones and/or surgeries. Trans young people and their parents face multiple barriers in accessing gender-affirming care and mental health support, however little is known about the parent perspective on accessing services for their trans child. This study aimed to understand the experiences of parents accessing medical and mental health services with and for their trans children within Australia. Using data from Trans Pathways, a large mixed-methods cross-sectional study, we examined the experiences of parents (N = 194) in Australia accessing primary care, psychiatry, therapy/counseling, mental health inpatient, and gender-affirming medical services with/for their trans children (aged 25 years or younger). Qualitative data on service experiences were thematically analyzed. Quantitative analyses included frequency of access to services, wait times, service satisfaction, and mental health diagnoses of the parents' trans child. Services were mostly first accessed when the young person was between 12 and 17 years of age, with primary care physicians being the most accessed service. Parents reported that some practitioners were respectful and knowledgeable about gender-affirming care, and others lacked experience in trans health. Across all services, common barriers included long wait times, complicated pathways to navigate to access support, as well as systemic barriers such as sparsity of gender speciality services. Across services, parents reported feeling as though they do not have the necessary tools to best support their child in their gender affirmation. This study highlights the crucial need for systemic changes in the processes of accessing gender-affirming care and mental health support to enable access to appropriate and timely care. These findings also indicate the importance of improving individual practitioner knowledge around trans health, to enhance the support provided to trans young people and their parents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Increasing numbers of trans young people are seeking medical services worldwide, but there have been few qualitative investigations of the experiences of trans young people attempting to engage with these services to explore in-depth experiences of clinical interactions. Aims: We aimed to explore the experiences of trans young people accessing primary care and gender-affirming medical services in Australia for reasons related to their gender. Methods: Using data from a large mixed methods cross-sectional study, we explored the personal experiences of trans young people aged 14–25 (N = 859) receiving care within primary care services and gender-affirming medical services. Qualitative data on these service experiences were thematically analyzed. Results: Trans young people in Australia reported experiencing difficulties when accessing medical services, especially in relation to gender-affirming medical intervention, referrals to specialist services, and obtaining clinical support in an affordable and timely manner. We found that trans young people were frequently confronted with negative experiences due to clinicians lacking expertise in providing gender-affirming care. Trans young people also reported many positive experiences, including feeling their gender identity was valued and respected by certain services. Although many practitioners attempted to assist their trans patients, they often did not provide satisfactory care and young people were often left to navigate the health care system unsupported. These interactions were often constrained by long waiting times and service cost. Discussion: In general, clinicians require further training to be able to respectfully interact with trans patients and to adequately assist trans young people to obtain necessary medical care. The danger of providing such non-affirmative care to a trans young person is not only invalidating the young person's identity, but also an elevated risk of ill-health due to later avoidance of health care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Trans and gender diverse young people experience mental health difficulties self-harm and suicidality at markedly higher rates than the general population, yet they often feel isolated from mental health services. There is little qualitative research on the experiences of trans and gender diverse young people accessing mental health support in Australia. The objective of this study was to comprehensively explore the experiences of trans and gender diverse young people in Australia who have sought mental health support from therapists, counsellors, psychiatrists and/or inpatient care providers. Methods: We report on findings from the Trans Pathways study, which was a mixed-methods study to evaluate the experiences of trans and gender diverse young people accessing mental health services: specifically, therapy and counselling services, psychiatric services and mental health inpatient services. Results: A total of 859 trans and gender diverse young people aged 14–25 years across Australia completed an anonymous online questionnaire. Therapy and/or counselling services (64.4%) were most frequently sought by trans and gender diverse young people in this study, followed by psychiatric services (43.0%) and mental health inpatient services (12.3%). The findings demonstrated that many mental health professionals lacked expertise in gender diversity, and that trans and gender diverse young people found it difficult to locate mental health professionals who were able to meet their needs in a timely manner. Conclusion: These findings indicate that training is necessary for all mental health professionals to improve their knowledge of gender diversity, enhance the support provided to trans and gender diverse young people and help to address the high rates of poor mental health. The findings outlined here provide insight into the areas in which clinicians could optimise their care of trans and gender diverse young people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Method Results Discussion and Conclusions There is a dire paucity of research into the burden, correlates and motives of substance use among trans young people in Australia.Using data from a national survey of Australian trans young people (N = 859, Mage = 19.4), we estimated prevalence of past 6‐month substance use (tobacco, alcohol, cannabis, other drugs) and lifetime substance use disorder diagnoses. Covariate‐adjusted multivariate logistic regression models tested associations between substance use types with 18 interpersonal factors. Open‐ended responses regarding substance use motives (n = 489) were qualitatively analysed using thematic analysis with an interpretative phenomenological approach.Prevalence of lifetime substance use disorder diagnosis was 13.5% (95% confidence interval [CI] 11.1, 16.1). Alcohol use was most reported (72.4%; 95% CI 68.9, 75.6) followed by tobacco (31.1%; 95% CI 27.7, 34.6) and cannabis (30.6%; 95% CI 27.2, 34.2). Trans women reported highest rates of alcohol and cannabis use; use of other drugs was highest among trans men. Highest risk of substance use was observed among trans youth who experienced discrimination, intimate partner abuse, peer rejection and lack of family support (adjusted odds ratios ranging 1.5 to 3.0). Four multi‐levelled themes of substance use motives were identified: circumstantial use, somatic use, feeling better about oneself and one's life, and harm reduction.While substance use among trans young is largely circumstantial, hedonistic and altruistic, facilitating self‐exploration, friendship and community connectedness, substance use among trans young people is highly prevalent and may be used to cope with sleep difficulties, depression/anxiety and cisnormativity, including delays and waitlists for accessing gender‐affirming care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Trans and gender diverse (TGD) young people worldwide experience high rates of poor mental health; however, these rates were unknown in Australia. In addition, how negative life events affect the mental health of TGD young people has been largely unexplored., Methods: This paper reports on novel mental health findings of Trans Pathways, the largest study ever conducted in Australia with trans (transgender) and gender diverse young people (N = 859; aged 14-25 years). The study was an anonymous online cross-sectional survey undertaken in 2016. Logistic and linear regression models were used to test associations between mental health outcomes and negative life experiences., Results: TGD young people in Australia experience high levels of mental distress, including self-harming (79.7%), suicidal thoughts (82.4%), and attempting suicide (48.1%). Three in four participants had been diagnosed with depression and/or anxiety (74.6% and 72.2%, respectively). Many TGD young people had been exposed to negative experiences such as peer rejection (89.0%), precarious accommodation (22.0%), bullying (74.0%), and discrimination (68.9%). Most poor mental health outcomes were associated with negative experiences. The strongest associations were found for precarious accommodation and issues within educational settings. For example, participants with a prior suicide attempt were almost six times more likely to have experienced issues with accommodation, including homelessness., Conclusions: The current results highlight the urgent need for better mental health care and provide insight into areas for targeted mental health interventions. These findings are pertinent for clinicians working with trans young people and wider society.