Support for trans and gender‑questioning young people

Young people who are trans or gender questioning often face additional challenges, including:

Being forced to choose incorrect gender options on forms
Being misgendered more frequently
Lack of representation or understanding

If you are trans, non‑binary, gender‑fluid, agender, or questioning, your identity is real and valid—even if systems don’t always recognise it yet.

Studies show that trans people experience higher rates of anxiety, depression, self‑harm, and suicidal thoughts compared to the general population. This is linked to the ongoing stress caused by stigma, rejection, and discrimination.

None of this means you are weak. These reactions are often understandable responses to unfair treatment.

Young people who are trans or gender questioning often face additional challenges, including:

Being forced to choose incorrect gender options on forms
Being misgendered more frequently
Lack of representation or understanding

If you are trans, non‑binary, gender‑fluid, agender, or questioning, your identity is real and valid—even if systems don’t always recognise it yet.

Studies show that trans people experience higher rates of anxiety, depression, self‑harm, and suicidal thoughts compared to the general population. This is linked to the ongoing stress caused by stigma, rejection, and discrimination.

None of this means you are weak. These reactions are often understandable responses to unfair treatment.

Signs of Anxiety or Stress

Signs of anxiety can include:

Racing thoughts
Feeling shaky or sick
Trouble sleeping
Feeling overwhelmed

Tips that may help

Slow breathing (in for 4, out for 6)
Grounding (name 5 things you can see, 4 you can touch, etc.)
Taking breaks from social media and news
Talking it out with someone you trust

Signs of Low mood or depression

Feeling sad or numb for a long time can be a sign you need extra support.

You might notice:

Low energy
Feeling hopeless
Pulling away from friends
Sleeping or eating changes

Check your wellbeing

You are not alone, even when it feels that way. Many trans people experience low mood because of isolation or discrimination—not because something is wrong with them.

Reaching out—to a friend, counsellor, or helpline—can really help.

Signs of Anxiety or Stress

Signs of anxiety can include:

Racing thoughts
Feeling shaky or sick
Trouble sleeping
Feeling overwhelmed

Tips that may help

Slow breathing (in for 4, out for 6)
Grounding (name 5 things you can see, 4 you can touch, etc.)
Taking breaks from social media and news
Talking it out with someone you trust

Signs of Low mood or depression

Feeling sad or numb for a long time can be a sign you need extra support.

You might notice:

Low energy
Feeling hopeless
Pulling away from friends
Sleeping or eating changes

Check your wellbeing

You are not alone, even when it feels that way. Many trans people experience low mood because of isolation or discrimination—not because something is wrong with them.

Reaching out—to a friend, counsellor, or helpline—can really help.

Helpful ideas

Try things out safely (e.g. different clothes at home, names with trusted people)
Learn at your own pace
Connect with other trans and gender‑diverse young people (online or in person)

Looking After Your Mental Health

Small things can make a big difference.

What is self‑care?

Self‑care is anything you do to look after yourself and your mental health. This includes meeting your basic needs (like eating and resting) and doing things that help you feel calmer, safer, or happier. Self‑care looks different for everyone.

Everyday things to keep you well

Eat regularly and drink enough water
Try to sleep as well as you can (even routines help)
Move your body in ways that feel good
Do something creative or relaxing

Be kind to yourself

Speak to yourself like you would to a friend
You don’t have to be “strong” all the time
It’s okay to ask for help

Tips from Young Minds on Self Care

Helpful ideas

Try things out safely (e.g. different clothes at home, names with trusted people)
Learn at your own pace
Connect with other trans and gender‑diverse young people (online or in person)

Looking After Your Mental Health

Small things can make a big difference.

What is self‑care?

Self‑care is anything you do to look after yourself and your mental health. This includes meeting your basic needs (like eating and resting) and doing things that help you feel calmer, safer, or happier. Self‑care looks different for everyone.

Everyday things to keep you well

Eat regularly and drink enough water
Try to sleep as well as you can (even routines help)
Move your body in ways that feel good
Do something creative or relaxing

Be kind to yourself

Speak to yourself like you would to a friend
You don’t have to be “strong” all the time
It’s okay to ask for help

Tips from Young Minds on Self Care

Being treated badly because you’re trans is not okay.

You deserve:

Respect
Safety
Support

What can help

Tell someone you trust (teacher, school counsellor, youth worker)
Keep records of bullying if it’s ongoing
Get support from a trans or LGBTQ+ youth group
Prioritise your safety—both online and offline

Remember: discrimination harms mental health, and support and affirmation help protect it.

See our section on bullying for helpful advice

Being treated badly because you’re trans is not okay.

You deserve:

Respect
Safety
Support

What can help

Tell someone you trust (teacher, school counsellor, youth worker)
Keep records of bullying if it’s ongoing
Get support from a trans or LGBTQ+ youth group
Prioritise your safety—both online and offline

Remember: discrimination harms mental health, and support and affirmation help protect it.

See our section on bullying for helpful advice

If you are gender questioning or trans, you are protected under the Equality Act 2010.

Watch the video to learn more

If you’ve experienced discrimination under the Equality Act 2010, you can get help from the Equality Advisory Support Service (EASS) helpline.

The EASS can help you deal with your problem without having to go to court or a tribunal. They can:

explain what the law says and how it applies to you
explain how your situation could be resolved
help you resolve your problem informally - for example, they might be able to contact the organisation that discriminated against you
refer you to a conciliation or mediation service if the problem can’t be resolved informally
help you work out if you can get legal aid if you want to go to court
explain how to start a court claim

How to contact the EASS

Equality Advisory Support Service (EASS) Helpline

Telephone: 0808 800 0082

Text relay: 0808 800 0084

Monday to Friday, 9am to 7pm

Saturday, 10am to 2pm

You can use the contact form on the EASS website

If you are gender questioning or trans, you are protected under the Equality Act 2010.

Watch the video to learn more

If you’ve experienced discrimination under the Equality Act 2010, you can get help from the Equality Advisory Support Service (EASS) helpline.

The EASS can help you deal with your problem without having to go to court or a tribunal. They can:

explain what the law says and how it applies to you
explain how your situation could be resolved
help you resolve your problem informally - for example, they might be able to contact the organisation that discriminated against you
refer you to a conciliation or mediation service if the problem can’t be resolved informally
help you work out if you can get legal aid if you want to go to court
explain how to start a court claim

How to contact the EASS

Equality Advisory Support Service (EASS) Helpline

Telephone: 0808 800 0082

Text relay: 0808 800 0084

Monday to Friday, 9am to 7pm

Saturday, 10am to 2pm

You can use the contact form on the EASS website

If you are hurting yourself or thinking about ending your life:

You deserve help and care right now.

Please reach out

Talk to someone you trust
Contact a helpline
Go to a GP, school counsellor, or emergency service

If you are in immediate danger, call 999 or 112.

Asking for help is brave, not weak.

Find help if you are in crisis

If you are hurting yourself or thinking about ending your life:

You deserve help and care right now.

Please reach out

Talk to someone you trust
Contact a helpline
Go to a GP, school counsellor, or emergency service

If you are in immediate danger, call 999 or 112.

Asking for help is brave, not weak.

Find help if you are in crisis

You don’t have to know your gender straight away.
You can take your time. Questioning is okay.
There is no single way to be trans.

You might:

Feel like a boy, a girl, both, neither, or something else
Want to change your name, pronouns, clothes, or nothing at all

All of these are valid.

You don’t have to know your gender straight away.
You can take your time. Questioning is okay.
There is no single way to be trans.

You might:

Feel like a boy, a girl, both, neither, or something else
Want to change your name, pronouns, clothes, or nothing at all

All of these are valid.

Your GP can refer you directly to one of the eight gender dysphoria clinics. You do not need an assessment by a mental health service beforehand. Neither does your GP need prior approval from their Integrated Care Board (ICB).

Although awareness of trans and non-binary health issues has increased, some GPs may not have much experience with trans health issues or gender dysphoria.

The NHS has some helpful information on what to expect when you talk to your GP and how to prepare for your NHS gender dysphoria clinic appointment.

Location of Gender Dysphoria Clinics

Your GP can refer you directly to one of the eight gender dysphoria clinics. You do not need an assessment by a mental health service beforehand. Neither does your GP need prior approval from their Integrated Care Board (ICB).

Although awareness of trans and non-binary health issues has increased, some GPs may not have much experience with trans health issues or gender dysphoria.

The NHS has some helpful information on what to expect when you talk to your GP and how to prepare for your NHS gender dysphoria clinic appointment.

Location of Gender Dysphoria Clinics

The Strong Family Alliance is a non‑profit programme of PFLAG that focuses on supporting parents when a child comes out as LGBTQ+, including transgender and gender‑diverse young people, with the aim of keeping families intact and children safe. It provides parents with clear, evidence‑informed guidance on how to respond with love, reduce risks such as rejection, homelessness, substance use and mental‑health crises, and navigate common questions and fears after a child comes out. The organisation offers parent guides, personal stories, blogs, faith‑reflective resources and connections to peer support communities, helping parents better understand their child’s experience, improve family communication, and create a safe, affirming home environment that supports the wellbeing of both parents and young people.

Visit The Strong Family Alliance

Bayswater Support is a UK‑based peer support group for parents whose children identify as transgender or non‑binary, offering a space to talk, share experiences, and feel understood by others in similar situations. The organisation focuses on supporting parents to explore their child’s distress and questions around gender with care and critical reflection, and it expresses caution about early medical interventions for gender dysphoria, emphasising child development, safeguarding, and alternative forms of support. Bayswater Support provides resources such as articles, research summaries, tip sheets, podcasts and videos, facilitates parent‑to‑parent connection, and engages with media and public bodies to contribute parents’ perspectives to wider discussions about adolescent gender distress and policy in the UK.

Visit Bayswater Support

Mermaids is a UK charity that supports transgender, non‑binary and gender‑diverse children and young people, as well as their families, by providing emotional support, practical information and opportunities for peer connection. Through its dedicated families programme, Mermaids offers a helpline, parent and carer forums, local and online support groups, and residential weekends that create safe, affirming spaces for families to share experiences and build confidence. The organisation provides guidance to help parents understand gender dysphoria, support their child’s wellbeing at home, school and in healthcare settings, and navigate challenges such as bullying or accessing services, while emphasising unconditional love, acceptance and informed decision‑making. Mermaids aims to reduce isolation, improve mental health outcomes, and help families feel understood and supported throughout their child’s journey.

Visit Mermaids

The Strong Family Alliance is a non‑profit programme of PFLAG that focuses on supporting parents when a child comes out as LGBTQ+, including transgender and gender‑diverse young people, with the aim of keeping families intact and children safe. It provides parents with clear, evidence‑informed guidance on how to respond with love, reduce risks such as rejection, homelessness, substance use and mental‑health crises, and navigate common questions and fears after a child comes out. The organisation offers parent guides, personal stories, blogs, faith‑reflective resources and connections to peer support communities, helping parents better understand their child’s experience, improve family communication, and create a safe, affirming home environment that supports the wellbeing of both parents and young people.

Visit The Strong Family Alliance

Bayswater Support is a UK‑based peer support group for parents whose children identify as transgender or non‑binary, offering a space to talk, share experiences, and feel understood by others in similar situations. The organisation focuses on supporting parents to explore their child’s distress and questions around gender with care and critical reflection, and it expresses caution about early medical interventions for gender dysphoria, emphasising child development, safeguarding, and alternative forms of support. Bayswater Support provides resources such as articles, research summaries, tip sheets, podcasts and videos, facilitates parent‑to‑parent connection, and engages with media and public bodies to contribute parents’ perspectives to wider discussions about adolescent gender distress and policy in the UK.

Visit Bayswater Support

Mermaids is a UK charity that supports transgender, non‑binary and gender‑diverse children and young people, as well as their families, by providing emotional support, practical information and opportunities for peer connection. Through its dedicated families programme, Mermaids offers a helpline, parent and carer forums, local and online support groups, and residential weekends that create safe, affirming spaces for families to share experiences and build confidence. The organisation provides guidance to help parents understand gender dysphoria, support their child’s wellbeing at home, school and in healthcare settings, and navigate challenges such as bullying or accessing services, while emphasising unconditional love, acceptance and informed decision‑making. Mermaids aims to reduce isolation, improve mental health outcomes, and help families feel understood and supported throughout their child’s journey.

Visit Mermaids

Stop Hate UK provides national, confidential support for trans people who experience hate crime or discrimination, offering a 24‑hour helpline where individuals can receive emotional support, independent advice, and advocacy without pressure to report incidents. The service supports victims, witnesses, and professionals, allows anonymous reporting, and helps people understand their options and next steps, recognising that many trans people feel unsafe reporting to the police. Alongside direct support, Stop Hate UK works to prevent transphobia through education, training, and awareness‑raising with organisations and communities.

Visit Stop Hate UK

TransActual is a UK‑wide, trans‑led organisation that focuses on advocacy, education, and systemic change rather than individual support. It provides reliable information on trans lives, rights, NHS healthcare, and UK law, challenges misinformation, and amplifies trans people’s lived experiences through articles, reports, and policy briefings. TransActual campaigns to improve access to healthcare and legal protections, engages with policymakers, delivers training, and works intersectionally to ensure that the voices of Black trans people, disabled trans people, and trans people of colour are centred.

Visit TransActual

Hampshire CAMHS offers mental‑health‑focused information, reassurance, and signposting for children and young people who are exploring or struggling with their gender identity or sexuality, as well as guidance for parents and carers. Its resources help adults recognise signs of distress, such as anxiety, low mood, self‑harm thoughts, or withdrawal, and emphasise that it is normal for young people to feel uncertain about gender.

Visit Hampshire CAMHS

Hampshire County Council’s LGBT communities (Get It On) page acts as a local information and signposting hub, bringing together sexual health services and community support for LGBT people, including trans and gender‑questioning individuals. It highlights youth‑specific services such as Breakout Youth and Y Services in Gosport and Fareham, which offer confidential one‑to‑one support and safe peer groups, and signposts to national organisations for trans adults and families. The page also provides information on sexual health services, explains homophobia and transphobia, and outlines routes for reporting hate crime safely.

Visit Get it On

YoungMinds supports trans, non‑binary, and gender‑questioning young people by providing affirming, mental‑health‑focused information that separates gender identity from mental illness while acknowledging the real impact of discrimination, dysphoria, and social pressure on wellbeing. Its resources help young people understand their feelings, navigate coming out safely, cope with bullying or misgendering, and find strategies to protect their mental health, while also offering guidance for parents and allies. YoungMinds signposts clearly to crisis support and specialist organisations and promotes protective factors such as validation, connection, and early help‑seeking.

Visit Young Minds

Terrence Higgins Trust (THT) supports trans and non‑binary people through trans‑inclusive sexual health and HIV information developed with and for the community. Its resources address significant health inequalities by providing accessible guidance on HIV testing, PrEP, PEP, and treatment, reassuring people that HIV medication does not interfere with hormone therapy, and promoting consent, confidence, and healthy relationships. THT also acknowledges barriers such as discrimination and misgendering in healthcare settings, signposting to inclusive clinics and alternatives like home testing to help trans people access sexual health care safely and respectfully.

Visit Terrence Higgins Trust

Brook is a UK charity that provides clear, accessible, and non‑judgemental information for young people about sexual health, relationships, and identity, including gender identity. Its resources explain gender in a factual and inclusive way, covering concepts such as cisgender, transgender, non‑binary, and gender expression, while emphasising that gender identity is a personal experience that may or may not align with sex assigned at birth.

Visit Brook

The Beaumont Society is an online community space where trans, gender‑diverse, or LGBTQ+ people (and/or those supporting them) can connect with others who share similar experiences. It offers informal emotional support, peer advice, shared experiences, and a sense of community, particularly for people who may feel isolated or lack access to in‑person services. As a social‑media‑based group, support is usually non‑clinical and not professionally delivered, relying instead on shared lived experience, mutual understanding, and moderation by group administrators.

Visit the Beaumont Society Facebook Page

Stop Hate UK provides national, confidential support for trans people who experience hate crime or discrimination, offering a 24‑hour helpline where individuals can receive emotional support, independent advice, and advocacy without pressure to report incidents. The service supports victims, witnesses, and professionals, allows anonymous reporting, and helps people understand their options and next steps, recognising that many trans people feel unsafe reporting to the police. Alongside direct support, Stop Hate UK works to prevent transphobia through education, training, and awareness‑raising with organisations and communities.

Visit Stop Hate UK

TransActual is a UK‑wide, trans‑led organisation that focuses on advocacy, education, and systemic change rather than individual support. It provides reliable information on trans lives, rights, NHS healthcare, and UK law, challenges misinformation, and amplifies trans people’s lived experiences through articles, reports, and policy briefings. TransActual campaigns to improve access to healthcare and legal protections, engages with policymakers, delivers training, and works intersectionally to ensure that the voices of Black trans people, disabled trans people, and trans people of colour are centred.

Visit TransActual

Hampshire CAMHS offers mental‑health‑focused information, reassurance, and signposting for children and young people who are exploring or struggling with their gender identity or sexuality, as well as guidance for parents and carers. Its resources help adults recognise signs of distress, such as anxiety, low mood, self‑harm thoughts, or withdrawal, and emphasise that it is normal for young people to feel uncertain about gender.

Visit Hampshire CAMHS

Hampshire County Council’s LGBT communities (Get It On) page acts as a local information and signposting hub, bringing together sexual health services and community support for LGBT people, including trans and gender‑questioning individuals. It highlights youth‑specific services such as Breakout Youth and Y Services in Gosport and Fareham, which offer confidential one‑to‑one support and safe peer groups, and signposts to national organisations for trans adults and families. The page also provides information on sexual health services, explains homophobia and transphobia, and outlines routes for reporting hate crime safely.

Visit Get it On

YoungMinds supports trans, non‑binary, and gender‑questioning young people by providing affirming, mental‑health‑focused information that separates gender identity from mental illness while acknowledging the real impact of discrimination, dysphoria, and social pressure on wellbeing. Its resources help young people understand their feelings, navigate coming out safely, cope with bullying or misgendering, and find strategies to protect their mental health, while also offering guidance for parents and allies. YoungMinds signposts clearly to crisis support and specialist organisations and promotes protective factors such as validation, connection, and early help‑seeking.

Visit Young Minds

Terrence Higgins Trust (THT) supports trans and non‑binary people through trans‑inclusive sexual health and HIV information developed with and for the community. Its resources address significant health inequalities by providing accessible guidance on HIV testing, PrEP, PEP, and treatment, reassuring people that HIV medication does not interfere with hormone therapy, and promoting consent, confidence, and healthy relationships. THT also acknowledges barriers such as discrimination and misgendering in healthcare settings, signposting to inclusive clinics and alternatives like home testing to help trans people access sexual health care safely and respectfully.

Visit Terrence Higgins Trust

Brook is a UK charity that provides clear, accessible, and non‑judgemental information for young people about sexual health, relationships, and identity, including gender identity. Its resources explain gender in a factual and inclusive way, covering concepts such as cisgender, transgender, non‑binary, and gender expression, while emphasising that gender identity is a personal experience that may or may not align with sex assigned at birth.

Visit Brook

The Beaumont Society is an online community space where trans, gender‑diverse, or LGBTQ+ people (and/or those supporting them) can connect with others who share similar experiences. It offers informal emotional support, peer advice, shared experiences, and a sense of community, particularly for people who may feel isolated or lack access to in‑person services. As a social‑media‑based group, support is usually non‑clinical and not professionally delivered, relying instead on shared lived experience, mutual understanding, and moderation by group administrators.

Visit the Beaumont Society Facebook Page