New research from the United Kingdom has revealed that over a third of children who were administered puberty blockers and hormone drugs experienced significant deterioration in their mental health, contradicting previous studies.
The new study, led by Professor Susan McPherson from the University of Essex and retired social scientist David Freedman, indicates that most children exposed to these treatments experienced erratic mental health fluctuations.
The 2011 study was based on group averages, while the recent analysis relied on individual results. McPherson and Freedman explained that this approach allowed for a more nuanced understanding of the treatment’s effects, revealing patterns and identifying who benefits and who does not.
In 2022, the National Health Service (NHS) in Britain decided to shut down the Tavistock GIDS clinic following a government report that found the clinic staff rushed minors into taking puberty blockers and hormone drugs without proper psychological or medical oversight. The report revealed that 96 percent of child patients were put on puberty blockers by Tavistock staffers. Concerns were raised about an overemphasis on gender dysphoria and the dismissal of other potential psychological factors in recommending drugs or surgeries for minors.
Dr. Hillary Cass, tasked with investigating the claims against Tavistock, recommended shutting down the clinic early due to the severity of her findings. She expressed concerns about the use of puberty blockers and other hormone drugs on children as young as 10 years old, many of whom were already suffering from various mental health issues or were on the autism spectrum.
Cass noted a lack of consensus and open discussion about the nature of gender dysphoria and the appropriate clinical response, and highlighted the absence of routine and consistent data collection, making it impossible to accurately track patient outcomes and pathways.
Several whistleblowers, including former staff, consultants, nurses, and former patients who regretted their treatment, have criticized the Tavistock clinic’s practices. They allege that informed consent was often not obtained as children were quickly placed on puberty blockers after only a few meetings. Some whistleblowers also claimed that topics like sexual orientation were effectively off-limits, with a transgender identity and hormone drugs being the only options explored by clinicians.
The new analysis of the Tavistock study aligns with research published by the Family Research Council. Dr. Jennifer Bauwens, director of FRC’s Center for Family Studies, explained that gender dysphoria was once considered a mental disorder but has now become a human rights issue due to the prevalence of gender identity ideology. She criticized the current research used to justify medical interventions, pointing out methodological errors and the lack of long-term follow-up reports addressing the impact of cross-sex hormones and surgeries.
In June 2023, the NHS banned the use of puberty blockers and hormone drugs on minors, following several European countries such as France, Sweden, Finland, and Norway that have also imposed restrictions on these treatments for children. The United States, however, has yet to implement such restrictions.
