Rise in Diagnoses
A study reveals a dramatic increase in children under 18 in diagnosed with gender dysphoria, rising from about one in 60,000 in 2011 to one in 1,200 in 2021, indicating a more than fiftyfold increase.
The research, based on GP records, found that the prevalence of gender dysphoria diagnoses rose more sharply among those recorded as female, reaching twice the rate of their male counterparts by 2021.
Mental Health and Treatment Concerns
Children and young people with gender dysphoria showed levels of anxiety, depression, and self-harm comparable to or exceeding those in populations diagnosed with autism or eating disorders, highlighting a significant mental health concern.
Despite the increase in diagnoses, less than 5% of those with gender dysphoria received prescriptions for puberty-suppressing hormones, and 8% for masculinizing or feminizing hormones, indicating a cautious approach to treatment.