Study Shows Link Between Conversion Therapy and Transgender Suicide Attempts

A new study published today in JAMA Psychiatry found that exposure to attempts by professionals to change a person's gender identity from transgender to cisgender is associated with a range of adverse mental health outcomes, including suicide attempts. The study was authored by researchers at The Fenway Institute, Massachusetts General Hospital (Harvard Medical School), and McLean Hospital (Harvard Medical School) and is believed to be the first to show an association between exposure to gender identity conversion efforts and adverse mental health outcomes among transgender adults in the United States. The study also builds on previous work published last month by the same researchers documenting the widespread prevalence (13.5%) among the U.S. transgender population of having experienced gender identity conversion efforts by therapists, counselors, and religious advisors. "The rate of previous suicide attempts...