Support for your youth

Peer support

Family members, friends and professionals can be a great source of support. However, they may not have lived experience as a trans youth or their parent.

Sometimes it can help to connect with other people who have walked a similar path. Shared experiences can give you insights and better understanding.

Many parents, caregivers and youth benefit from peer support. For more information, check out our Peer Support Directory for information about groups in your area.

CampOUT!

CampOUT! is a social justice summer camp for queer A reclaimed term for non-heterosexual or non-cisgender people. "Queer" provides convenient shorthand for "LGBT2Q+", and is also used by some people to describe their personal identities. , trans, gender-diverse Two-Spirit A term used within some Indigenous communities to reflect complex Indigenous understandings of gender and sexuality and the long history of sexual and gender diversity in Indigenous cultures. Two-Spirit encompasses sexual, gender, cultural and spiritual identity. It may refer to cross-gender, multi-gender or non-binary gender roles, non-heterosexual identities, and a range of cultural identities, roles and practices embodied by Two-Spirit peoples. Some people also use "2-Spirit" or "2S." (Source: Battered Women’s Support Services) and allied youth ages 14–21. Events and camps like CampOUT! may be an opportunity for peer support and connection for your child.

The event takes place every July near Vancouver. Leadership and camper applications begin in February. 

Professional support

Often, parents wonder when and if they need professional support for their child. Many children and youth thrive within supportive environments and do not need to see a care provider (such as a counsellor, psychologist, doctor or pediatrician) for gender-related issues. But sometimes, things in or outside the family might cause stress and make accessing professional support necessary. 

Youths need timely professional support if:

• They are in distress or are showing signs that they are struggling to cope with gender concerns or other issues
• They need gender-affirming medical care, such as puberty blockers A group of medications for youth that temporarily suppress or inhibit puberty by suppressing the production of sex hormones and preventing development of secondary sex characteristics. or hormone therapy

Some youth may experience distress related to gendered aspects of their body and this may worsen or become more intense with progression of puberty. This can be an important reason to access support.

Parents and care providers may benefit from professional support to help them better understand gender development and how to manage their own fears, concerns over their child’s gender identity A person's deeply held, internal sense of themself as male, female, a blend of both or neither. (Source: GenderSpectrum.org) and expression.

Having a gender-affirming care Processes through which a health care system cares for and supports an individual while recognizing and acknowledging their gender and expression. provider is very important. As a supportive adult, you can play an important role in finding support for your child and family. This may include support related to navigating gender exploration and identity or other routine issues of adolescence and wellness. 

Mental health & psychosocial support

We all experience ups and downs, and our own strength, family and friends are often enough to get us through. However, significant distress may not resolve on its own, and it may be necessary to get professional help to keep your child safe and well. If your child is very anxious or depressed, harming themselves or considering suicide, please help them access professional mental health support. 

Your child may also want to connect with a counsellor for reasons unrelated to distress. For example, counselling may help if your child wants to better understand, explore and express their gender.

Counsellors can help with things such as:

• Working through their gender exploration
• Navigating peer relationships
• Dealing with social stigma
• Deciding about possible medical interventions, such as hormone therapy

If your child wants to see a counsellor and you need help finding one, visit our Finding a Counsellor page for some guidance. 

Psychosocial support may be provided by many different professionals, including counsellors, social workers, psychologists and psychiatrists. Health care professionals can also assist by providing documentation related to support plans at school and in the community.

Mental health & the family

Professional support may also be helpful if you or other family members find it challenging to cope. 

Siblings may need support dealing with changes in the family, especially if they feel that their trans sibling requires a lot of support. They may also experience challenges in their social environment related to transphobia.

Staying connected as a family will contribute to overall wellbeing. Try to find time for fun and activities together. 

For more information, check out Support for You.

Gender-affirming medical care

Another situation requiring professional support is if your adolescent child needs gender-affirming medical care, such as hormone therapy. Visit our Medical Options page to find out more. 

Finding appropriate health care

Not all health care providers have training and experience in gender-affirming care. We recommend seeking out care providers who have experience working with trans, Two-Spirit A term used within some Indigenous communities to reflect complex Indigenous understandings of gender and sexuality and the long history of sexual and gender diversity in Indigenous cultures. Two-Spirit encompasses sexual, gender, cultural and spiritual identity. It may refer to cross-gender, multi-gender or non-binary gender roles, non-heterosexual identities, and a range of cultural identities, roles and practices embodied by Two-Spirit peoples. Some people also use "2-Spirit" or "2S." (Source: Battered Women’s Support Services) and non-binary Umbrella term referring to people whose gender does not fall within the binary gender system of woman/girl or man/boy. Some individuals identify as non-binary while others may use terms such as gender non-conforming, genderqueer, or agender. Non-binary people may or may not conform to societal expectations for their gender expression and gender role, and they may or may not seek gender-affirming medical or surgical care. youth, or providers willing to learn how to provide the best possible care. 

To find an experienced health care provider near your community, visit Finding a Primary Care Provider or contact the Trans Care BC health navigation team for more information. 

Resources

There are many books about gender and include trans, Two-Spirit A term used within some Indigenous communities to reflect complex Indigenous understandings of gender and sexuality and the long history of sexual and gender diversity in Indigenous cultures. Two-Spirit encompasses sexual, gender, cultural and spiritual identity. It may refer to cross-gender, multi-gender or non-binary gender roles, non-heterosexual identities, and a range of cultural identities, roles and practices embodied by Two-Spirit peoples. Some people also use "2-Spirit" or "2S." (Source: Battered Women’s Support Services) and non-binary Umbrella term referring to people whose gender does not fall within the binary gender system of woman/girl or man/boy. Some individuals identify as non-binary while others may use terms such as gender non-conforming, genderqueer, or agender. Non-binary people may or may not conform to societal expectations for their gender expression and gender role, and they may or may not seek gender-affirming medical or surgical care. characters.

Middle readers

• Both Can Be True (Machias)
• From Alice to Zen and Everything in Between (Atkinson)
• Frankie and Bug (Forman)
• George (Gino)
• Gracefully Grayson (Polinsky)
• Ellen Outside the Lines (Sass)
• Obie is Many Enough (Bailer)
• The Pants Project (Clarke)
• Rabbit Chase (LaPensée)

Youth 

• a+e 4ever (Ilike Merey)
• A Circus Mirror Day (Corin Ash)
• Almost Perfect (Katcher)
• The Art of Being Normal (Williamson)
• As the Crow Flies (Gillman)
• Beautiful Music for Ugly Children (Kirstin Cronn-Mills)
• Being Emily (Rachel Gold)
• Beyond Magenta (Susan Kuklin)
• Cemetery Boys (Thomas)
• Debbie Harry Sings in French (Meagan Brothers)
• Even If We Break (Nijkamp)
• Euphoria Kids (Evans)
• Felix Ever After (Kacen Callander) 
• First Spring Grass Fire (Rae Spoon)
• Freakboy (Kristin Elizabeth Clark)
• I am J (Cris Beam)
• I Wish You All the Best (Deaver)
• If I Was Your Girl (Russo)
• In Her Skin (Trina Sotira)
• Jumpstart the World (Catherine Ryan Hyde)
• Luna (Peters)
• One in Every Crowd (Coyote)
• Parrotfish (Wittlinger)
• Revolutionary Voices: A Multicultural Queer A reclaimed term for non-heterosexual or non-cisgender people. "Queer" provides convenient shorthand for "LGBT2Q+", and is also used by some people to describe their personal identities. Youth Anthology (Sonnie)
• Stay Gold (McSmith)
• Surviving the City: Vol 1 and 2 (Spillet-Sumner)
• The Sweet In-Between: A Novel (Reynolds)
• Symptoms of Being Human (Gavin)
• The Witch King (Edgmon)

Where to get these resources

To find copies of these books and other resources listed above:

• Call or visit the BC Children’s Hospital Family Support and Resource Centre — You can borrow several health resources from the centre. They offer pick up in Vancouver or you can have them mailed to your home (return postage included). Search “transgender” in their library for a full listing of resources.
• Call or visit your local library — The library may have copies of these books or they may be able to order them from other libraries.
• Contact the health navigation team — For more information about accessing resources in your community.