Tories review the gender dysphoria epidemic – but they’re causing it themselves

Feb 11, 2020 by Jill

by Caroline ffiske, The Conservative Woman:

AT TCW, we have repeatedly called for a change in the Government’s approach to the surge in young people seeking help with gender dysphoria. While the Government ‘banked a credit’ for announcing an inquiry into the matter, there was no public follow-up for over a year.

Now, at last, the Times reports that the NHS has ordered an independent review into the use of puberty suppressants and cross-sex hormones for gender-dysphoric adolescents. The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), which is responsible for clinical practice guidelines in England and Wales, has also been asked to produce guidance for the first time about referring children to gender identity services.

Not before time. The Times article sets out just how bad things are. ‘NHS rules . . . enable children to start gender transition treatment before puberty without their parent’s support’ and ‘children unhappy with their birth gender can begin treatment after as few as three therapeutic assessments’. ‘They can discuss treatments separately from their parents’ and ‘are encouraged to self-define their status and to develop “autonomy” in decision-making’. It is beyond me how anyone could not have seen this for the safe-guarding crisis it surely is. More and more evidence stacks up that the majority of young people presenting with gender dysphoria have other problems: they may be on the autistic spectrum and often have a history of trauma and mental health problems.

Read here