Support for Your Mental Health as Transgender Youth

Mental health relates to your emotions and feelings, as well as your overall wellbeing. When you are mentally healthy, you are usually content or happy, and life is easier to handle. Even if you’re feeling alright, it is important to have knowledge about mental health and how to care for yourself, because transition can be a difficult time for some.

It is always OK to ask for help, even if you feel that you’ve done something wrong. No one needs to fight alone, and no one deserves to have to, either. If you need help, reach out.

Trans mental health services

There are plenty of ways to find mental health services specifically for supporting transgender individuals, but sometimes it can take a bit of digging. If you are looking for a therapist or other mental health services, using one of the following search engines will be a good starting place:

• Rad Remedy’s Health Service Search Engine
• WPATH Find a Provider
• GLMA Equality Find a Provider

If you are having trouble identifying trans-friendly professionals to help with your mental health please contact CHOP’s Gender and Sexuality Development Clinic team.

Crisis hotlines

It is common for transgender people to feel unhappy with life, especially while they are young. Many transgender people feel suicidal, or consider taking their own life, at some point in their lives. If you are feeling this way, you are not alone. Please reach out to a therapist or other healthcare professional if you are having thoughts about ending your life.

If you are in need of immediate assistance, please reach out to one of the following LGBT-friendly crisis hotlines, and hang in there:

The Trevor Project​

866-488-7386, available 24/7
1-202-304-1200 (Text “Trevor” To Begin, Mon-Fri, 3 p.m. – 10 p.m. EST)
Chat Online at ​thetrevorproject.org/get-help-now/, 3 p.m. – 10 p.m. EST

Trans Lifeline​

USA: 877-565-8860 (available seven days a week, 11 a.m. - 5 a.m. EST)
Canada: 877-330-6366 (available seven days a week, 11 a.m. – 5 a.m. EST)

Support groups

There are many support groups available for trans youth/teens. There are social groups as well as therapeutic groups. The Gender Clinic keeps a running list of active support groups. If you are interested in finding a group local to you, please contact us so that we can help connect you.

There are also many online support groups available for youth:

Text Scarleteen (206-866-2279)

If you have questions about gender, sex, consent, puberty or relationships, the Scarleteen SMS text option may be a good way to get it answered. It’s free, though they ask that the questions be short and not already answered through their website. They will also direct you to articles for you to read if you can’t find the specific subject you’re looking for.

Gender Spectrum: The Lounge (ages 13 - 19)

Need gender-specific support from trans people who may have lived a similar experience? The Lounge is an online community for 13- to 19-year-olds where you can connect to trans adults and trans volunteers who can answer your questions directly.