Thank you for the question. I'm glad we have an opportunity to talk about the harms directed towards the 2SLGBTQ+ community.
We can talk about the impacts of mental health distress but also what it fundamentally means to be denied the right to identity and bodily autonomy. Impacts often turn to negative coping mechanisms. We know we have increased rates of depression and anxiety and negative coping mechanisms like turning to drugs and alcohol, and increased suicidal ideation as well.
We know, for example, that gender affirmation, whether that happens at home, in your faith community, at school or through the health care system, helps to improve mental health and well-being and makes you feel part of the community around you.