NHS England will test all children who believe they are transgender for autism under new plans seen by The Telegraph.
Last year’s Cass Review, endorsed by both Labour and the Tories, found that mental health conditions were disproportionately more common among children and young people with gender dysphoria.
As such, new guidance means that every child referred to a gender clinic will now be “screened for neurodevelopmental conditions” such as autism and ADHD, and “cognitive assessments” to determine any other learning disabilities.
Children will also have their mental health evaluated, as well as their relationship with their family and their sexual development, including whether they are experiencing same-sex attraction. Of course, much of the concern over transgender children has been that they are just confused gay or lesbian kids who the internet/society has convinced were ‘born in the wrong body’.
As part of a proposal to incorporate the Cass Review’s recommendations, the NHS will move away from the “medical model” operated by the controversial Tavistock Clinic in favour of a “holistic” and common sense approach.
The new guidance will be rolled out later this year after being released for public consultation imminently.
Many groups and parents are celebrating the news but naturally, there’s also been some blowback. Some critics are pointing out that even if transgender children and young people are disproportionately autistic, this doesn’t mean that they are fundamentally incapable of having a correct understanding of their own feelings and bodies.
There’s also concern that these tests will soon be expanded to include transgender adults.
However it turns out, it’s probably a step in the right direction as it stands, especially given the number of detransitioners out there and the amount of young people who convince themselves they are trans based on what they see or are told on the internet.
We also already know that transgender people are at greater risk of depression, self harm and suicide than both cisgender autistic folks and non autistic folks, and so clearly the NHS had to start doing something different.
Good job by the Cass Report and everyone involved with it, now let’s see how it all plays out.
