Thread by @SEGMtweets

The topic of suicide in trans-identifying youth is frequently in the headlines. Yet, until recently, the focus has been on their self-harming thoughts & behaviors, rather than completed suicides. A new study fills this key knowledge gap./1
segm.org/trans_youth_su…

Using data from the world’s largest gender clinic (UK GIDS), the rate of completed suicides in the UK was found to be 0.03%, or an annualized rate of 13 per 100,000. No difference between those waitlisted vs treated was detected, likely due to low numbers of suicides (n=4)./2

Gender-dysphoric youth who self-harm must be supported, including - if indicated - with evidence-based suicide prevention protocols. To date, however, no studies have shown that transition reduces the risk of suicide long-term. /3
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ac…
ajp.psychiatryonline.org/doi/10.1176/ap…

While higher than the rate found in the general population, the 0.03% statistic suggests the absolute risk of suicide is low. This, combined with the lack of evidence that hormones & surgery reduce the risk of suicide, calls into question the “transition or suicide” narrative./4

Suicide is rarely attributable to a single cause: mental illness, autism, eating disorders - prevalent in trans-identifying youth - all increase its risk. However, the fact that death by suicide is rare should provide some reassurance to families of gender-dysphoric youth./5

This new study is available in full at this link: link.springer.com/article/10.100…