Transgender Teen Grapples with Inadequate Mental Health Care
Waiting in Desperation
Callum Bradford, a transgender teen from Chapel Hill, found himself in a desperate situation. After overdosing on prescription drugs, he needed mental health care, but the UNC Hospitals’ emergency room was short on beds. As he faced the possibility of being transferred to another hospital, one burning question haunted him: would he be placed in a girls’ unit? The answer, unfortunately, was yes. This news triggered one of the worst anxiety attacks he had ever experienced.
Insufficient Support
Callum’s parents fought relentlessly to reverse this decision, but their efforts were in vain. Despite their initial success in blocking the transfer, Callum ended up back in UNC’s emergency room a few months later after a second overdose. Once again, he faced the prospect of being placed in an inpatient ward that did not align with his gender identity. His mental health deteriorated rapidly, and he expressed that his urge to harm himself was becoming uncontrollable.
Political Debate Over Transgender Health Care
Safe and Necessary Treatment
The political debate surrounding health care for transgender youth has intensified across the United States. Those who support withholding gender-affirming medical procedures for minors often argue that parents are not acting in their children’s best interest. However, major medical associations assert that these treatments are safe and warn of severe mental health consequences for children who are forced to wait until adulthood for access to necessary care.
Mental Health Crisis Among LGBTQ+ Youth
The statistics speak for themselves. LGBTQ+ high school students have higher rates of attempted suicide compared to their peers, and youth and young adults aged 10-24 make up about 15% of all suicides. It is evident that timely access to gender-affirming care is crucial for the well-being of transgender teens.
North Carolina’s Challenges
A Broken System
In North Carolina, the situation is particularly dire. The state has passed laws restricting or banning gender-affirming medical care for transgender minors, leaving these vulnerable individuals without adequate support. Moreover, North Carolina lacks uniform treatment standards across hospitals and struggles with a shortage of funds and staff trained to treat transgender youth in crisis. As a result, last-resort measures to support patients like Callum often fail to provide the help they need and can even exacerbate their struggles.
The Impact on Mental Health
Dr. Jack Turban, a renowned expert in gender psychiatry, warns that sending a transgender child to a unit that does not align with their gender identity can have devastating consequences. Failing to validate their identity from the beginning can worsen their mental health and potentially increase their risk of suicide.
Lack of Funding and Resources
A Nationwide Dearth of Beds
Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a nationwide shortage of pediatric psychiatric beds. The pandemic only exacerbated this issue, with an unprecedented number of people seeking emergency mental health services. As a result, hospitals like UNC often have no choice but to send patients to other facilities, even if they cannot meet specific needs.
A Lack of Direct Action
Although North Carolina allocated significant funding to shore up mental health infrastructure, none of this money was specifically allocated to the treatment needs of transgender patients. While the funding may benefit everyone, the lack of direct action leaves trans youth at the mercy of an ill-equipped system when they need help the most.
The Struggle to Provide Gender-Affirming Care
Barriers and Discrimination
There is no national standard for how psychiatric hospitals must cater to transgender patients. The LGBTQ+ civil rights organization Lambda Legal has outlined best practices, but cases of discrimination based on gender identity rarely end up in court. Parents often find themselves advocating for their rights and supporting their child in crisis, adding another layer of trauma to an already challenging situation.
Insufficient Training and Mistakes
Many medical providers still lack training about LGBTQ+ identities, leading to common mistakes like printing the wrong gender designation on hospital wristbands or assigning transgender patients to single-occupancy rooms when others have roommates. These errors add to the already traumatic experiences of patients.
Hope for the Future
Steps Towards Improvement
North Carolina is making some progress in addressing the challenges faced by youth in mental health crises. The state has allocated funding to open a new youth behavioral health facility in Butner, which aims to provide individualized care, including for transgender patients. Additionally, UNC has plans to open a freestanding children’s hospital in the coming years.
A Message of Resilience
Despite the hardships he has endured, Callum remains optimistic. He believes that the new resources and policy changes could provide a more gender-affirming treatment experience for others in the future. His message is clear: “I’m still here, and I’m happy to be here. That’s all I want for all my trans friends.”
