How to Support Your Trans Child, Part 17: Prioritize Mental Health (Yours and Theirs)
When supporting your transgender child, prioritizing LGBTQ+ mental health is essential for both your child’s well-being and your own. Mental health plays a critical role in navigating the challenges and emotions that come with their transition, and as a parent, you have the opportunity to foster a nurturing and supportive environment. This means focusing on not just your child’s mental health, but also your own, as you both face different, yet equally important, emotional journeys.
Supporting Your Child’s Mental Health
One of the most powerful ways to support your trans child is by embracing the changes that contribute to their sense of identity and comfort. Whether it’s changes in their style of dress, adopting a new name, or using different pronouns, affirming these choices can make a profound difference in your child’s mental health.
Research has consistently shown that transgender individuals who experience support from their families—especially in using their chosen names and pronouns—have significantly lower rates of depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts. By being an ally in these areas, you’re actively contributing to their happiness and self-esteem.
If your child’s identity or expression feels unfamiliar to you, it’s important to recognize that your discomfort is natural but must be addressed. Putting your child’s emotional needs first, even when it feels challenging, is a crucial step in prioritizing their LGBTQ+ mental health. Every act of support, no matter how small, can bolster their confidence and reinforce that they are loved for who they truly are.
Mental Health for Parents of Trans Kids
While prioritizing your child’s mental health is vital, it’s equally important to take care of your own emotional well-being. Parenting a transgender child can bring up a range of emotions, from confusion to fear, and these feelings should not be ignored. Mental health for parents of trans kids is often overlooked, but it’s critical to ensure that you have the emotional tools and support needed to be there for your child. This may involve seeking therapy, joining support groups for parents of LGBTQ+ children, or finding resources that help you process your feelings.
Taking care of your mental health will help you work through any discomfort or anxiety you may feel about your child’s transition. It also ensures that you’re in a better position to offer them ongoing, compassionate support. Navigating your emotions in a healthy way shows your child that it’s okay to seek help and prioritize well-being, reinforcing the importance of mental health for the entire family.
Creating a Supportive Environment
By addressing the mental health needs of both you and your child, you create a more supportive and loving environment where your trans child can thrive. Checking in on your child’s mental health regularly, offering affirming actions like using their chosen name, and seeking outside help when needed are all ways to ensure that your family’s emotional well-being remains a priority.
When parents take the time to care for their own mental health, they are better equipped to handle the challenges that arise in parenting a transgender child. In turn, this emotional resilience helps foster an environment where your child feels accepted and supported, allowing them to grow and thrive both emotionally and physically.
For more insights on LGBTQ+ mental health and ways to support your trans child, explore our blog, Parental Support for Trans Kids: 20 Ways to Support Your Trans Child, or get in touch with a gender therapist today.