Roger-Luc Chayer (Image : AI / Gay Globe)
Tragedy in British Columbia, Mental Health and the Debate Over Gender Transition Among Adolescents
Yesterday, in British Columbia, a province of Canada, a tragedy of profound sadness occurred. Jesse Van Rootselaar, only 18 years old, killed nine people and injured dozens more before taking his own life.
A tragedy in a small municipality on Canada’s west coast
Among the victims were his mother, his 11-year-old half-brother, several students aged 12 and 13, as well as a member of the local high school staff. The tragedy took place in a small municipality in the northern part of this Pacific province, on the west coast of Canada.
Mental health, gender transition and the question of minimum age
Unfortunately, this case once again raises serious questions about mental health follow-up for people in transition. What should be the minimum age to undertake a gender transition, and is it appropriate to allow gender transition among adolescents?
A medical, ethical and social debate
The question of the minimum age to begin a transition is complex and the subject of significant medical, ethical and social debate. There is no single universal age, as recommendations vary depending on the country, legal frameworks and medical guidelines.
The different stages of transition among youth
In general, current clinical approaches distinguish several stages. For prepubescent children, medical treatments are not considered; instead, the focus is on psychosocial support. During adolescence, when puberty begins, some protocols allow for the possibility of puberty blockers, prescribed under strict medical supervision, in order to give the young person time to reflect without further bodily changes progressing. Gender-affirming hormone treatments are generally considered later in adolescence, and surgical interventions are, in most jurisdictions, reserved for adulthood, with very limited and closely regulated exceptions.
Medical oversight and gender dysphoria
As for whether it is appropriate to authorize a gender transition for adolescents, major medical associations maintain that carefully supervised access to specialized care may be beneficial for certain young people experiencing persistent and well-documented gender dysphoria. However, they emphasize the importance of thorough evaluation, ongoing mental health support, informed consent and, whenever possible, the involvement of parents or guardians.
Violence, stigmatization and collective responsibility
Each time violent acts are committed by trans individuals, blame is placed on hormones or on their mental health, while the violent acts committed by many others in society—who have no connection to gender transition—are often overlooked.
We should focus on violence in general rather than stigmatizing specific groups of people, and perhaps then we might begin to change things, even if only slightly.
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