A surge in proposed and passed anti-trans laws is being called a threat to trans kids and their families.
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Many believe there's a connection between the availability of gender-affirming health care and mental health. Among them is Dr. Stephen Rosenthal, medical director of UCSF's Child & Adolescent Gender Center.
He told KCBS Radio's "As Prescribed" on Thursday that when people come to a gender clinic, they report higher rates of depression, anxiety and suicidal ideation than the general population.
"Really because of those mental health concerns that people present to us with that this care is so important," he said.
Rosenthal cited a Dutch study that followed 55 young transitioning people and tracked their mental health to underscore that point. "When they looked at psychological wellbeing there was a significant improvement compared to their pretreatment values," he said.
Rosenthal pointed to external factors such as state legislatures passing judgment can have real negative impacts.
"If have already in particular begun to experience gender-affirming care and experience the benefits of it, to feel like this might suddenly be taken away could be absolutely devastating," he added.
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