Being in high school is definitely not an easy experience for most students. It is an awkward, stressful, emotional, confusing, insecure and not very stable stage of your life.
You are no longer a small child where you may have the protective buffers of family and friends, if you are so fortunate, to somewhat insulate and protect you from the often harsh realities of the world.
Yet, you are not an adult where you can have the opportunities to control your situation more to your liking and somewhat independent of others, including financially. And, you are/should be more mature and self-confident.
If you are transgender, gender non-binary or questioning and are now beyond this period of time in your life, your personal experiences during high school likely will confirm this all to be true.
Though it is substantially understated and far worse than that experienced by cis-gendered peers.
In short, a nightmarish period of high anxiety, confusion, hopelessness and depression.
Awareness and Seeking Answers
High school for many transgender, gender nonbinary and questioning individuals, was/is a time in life where gender questions, issues, stresses and concerns became/have become more apparent. You did/are soul searching and did seek/are seeking of a lot of information on gender related issues.
Hormones, puberty, confusion, emotional fragility and unwanted/detested changes of your body wreaked/wreak havoc on your life.
This is what we hear so often from our patients.
And it definitely is not easy.
A clearer picture of what you and others had/are dealing with has been documented through research conducted by the through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and just recently publicized.
The CDC 2023 Youth Risk Behavior Survey
The CDC has conducted surveys of high school students on a variety of issues every other year since 1991. This involves a representative sample of students in the 9th – 12th grades in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
In 2023, for the first time, the survey included transgender related questions and issues. Over 20,000 students were involved in submitting information.
General Results From the 2023 Youth Risk Behavior Survey
It was determined that the prevalence of students that identified as transgender in high school was 3.3% with an additional 2.2% questioning their gender. When taken together, up to 5.5% of high school students in 2023 identify as transgender. For both of these categories, the birth sex was female in 64% of these individuals.
Survey Results on Mental Health, Experiences and Behaviors
The data relating to the specific experiences, behavior and mental health of those identifying as transgender or questioning as compared to those that were cisgender males and females, is eye opening – even shocking for many, especially for those who have minimal exposure to transgender related issues. It reveals that these individuals face far more violence and have much greater mental health issues and home related problems versus their cisgender peers.
The following are results from this survey.
Bullied at school in the last 12 months:
- Transgender and questioning – 40%
- Cisgender females – 20%
- Cisgender males – 15%
Poor mental health in the last 30 days:
- Transgender – 65%
- Questioning – 53%
- Cisgender females – 38%
- Cisgender males – 18%
Persistent sadness and hopelessness in the last 30 days:
- Transgender – 72%
- Questioning – 69%
- Cisgender females – 51%
- Cisgender males – 26%
Seriously considered committing suicide in the last 12 months:
- Transgender – 53%
- Questioning – 45%
- Cisgender females – 24%
- Cisgender males – 12%
Attempted suicide in the last 12 months:
- Transgender and questioning – 26%
- Cisgender females – 11%
- Cisgender males – 5%
Unstable housing in the last 30 days:
- Transgender – 11%
- Questioning – 10%
- Cisgender female – 2%
- Cisgender males – 2%
Takeaways from the Survey
This 2023 CDC survey unequivocally exposes and quantifies the absolutely major challenges and stresses, both external and internal, that both transgender and questioning individuals face in high school as compared to their cisgender male and female peers.
More absolutely must be done to effectively address all these issues that transgender and questioning individuals are having to deal with far in excess of their peers.
Your Top Surgery Consultation
If you are seriously considering FTM, FTN or MTF top surgery to address your gender dysphoria, you can schedule your consultation with me by either calling the Arizona Center for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery at (480) 451-3000 or by contacting us by email.
Steven H. Turkeltaub, M.D. P.C.
Scottsdale and Phoenix, Arizona
