APA Statement on Access to Treatment for Transgender, Gender Diverse, and Nonbinary People
May 1, 2025
Following the release of the HHS Review of Medical Interventions for Children and Adolescents with Gender Dysphoria on May 1, 2025, APA issued the following statement:
APA supports access to psychological care and evidence-based treatment for transgender, gender-diverse, and nonbinary children, teens and adults. Treatment decisions should be made jointly by parents or guardians, medical and psychological experts, and young people themselves.
Research clearly shows that supportive mental health care greatly reduces the risk of depression, suicide, and other negative outcomes for transgender and nonbinary youth. Psychotherapeutic treatment for transgender and nonbinary youth should aim to help children and adolescents explore and understand, rather than change, their gender identity.
Eliminating or reducing access to mental health supports for transgender, gender-diverse and nonbinary populations contradicts established psychological science and risks perpetuating harm to people whose gender identity may be different from their biological sex assigned at birth.
An accurate understanding of evidence-based care is essential. There is a strong need for continued research to ensure full access to competent and reliable health care. Solid research is essential to protecting the lives and the rights of transgender, gender-diverse and nonbinary individuals and ensuring that they receive the best available care.
The lack of transparency regarding authorship, expertise, and methodology in the recent HHS report undermines scientific rigor and contradicts standards for evidence-based policymaking. Policies should be developed through open scientific discourse rather than opaque processes that prevent proper evaluation of potential biases.
Additional APA Resources
Update on Policies Affecting Gender-Diverse Populations, May 2025
APA Policy Statement on Affirming Evidence-Based Inclusive Care for Transgender, Gender Diverse, and Nonbinary Individuals, February 2024
Addressing Misinformation, and the Role of Psychological Practice and Science, February 2024
APA Resolution on Gender Identity Change Efforts, February 2021