Further excerpts from the report:
The investigation teams often see a need to initially offer support interventions with psychopedagogical elements that not only concern gender identity but identity development more generally.
The content of the interventions and the forms of how the support is provided are individually adapted. The purpose of the efforts is both to provide a safe and validating context, and to provide information that can contribute to the person gaining increased knowledge and understanding of their own situation and how they can handle it.
Recommendations:
The health service should offer psychopedagogical interventions, support and counseling to guardians of children and young people who are enrolled in care due to signs of gender incongruence or gender dysphoria.
The health service should offer psychopedagogical interventions, support and counseling to relatives and close relatives of children and young people who are enrolled in care due to signs of gender incongruence or gender dysphoria.
The health service should, in order to prevent and reduce the problems that young people with signs of gender incongruence or gender dysphoria themselves see in relation to the condition in their everyday lives, assist the child or young person in contacts with the social functions involved, such as school and social services.
The health service should carry out the psychological, psychosocial and psychiatric parts of the investigation of gender incongruence with the help of valid investigative methods, investigative conversations and biographies obtained from the child or young person and from the guardian.
The health service should, during the investigation of gender incongruence in children and young people, offer psychosocial support for an unconditional exploration of gender identity.
The health service should - before or at an early stage of the investigation of gender incongruence - for all children and young people systematically examine whether there are signs of AST and ADHD / ADD. In case of signs of AST, neuropsychiatric investigation should be initiated in connection.
Healthcare should
• before or at an early stage of the investigation of gender incongruence, for all children and young people to systematically identify and assess any simultaneous psychiatric problems.
• during the investigation of gender incongruence in children and adolescents, offer psychosocial support and psychiatric treatment to reduce any psychiatric problems.
The health service should at an early stage of the investigation of gender confusion assess the child's or young person's psychosocial situation, including strengths and weaknesses in the family's functioning, the child's or young person's support from the guardians, school situation and peer relationships.
During the investigation of gender incongruence, the health service should pay attention to whether children and young people can take advantage of the psychosocial support offered by the investigative team, and whether they feel that the support is sufficient. If necessary, the health service should offer the child or young person a suitable support or treatment contact outside the investigation team.
During the investigation of gender incongruence, the health service should consider, and if necessary examine, psychological dimensions such as the cognitive, emotional and social ability of the child or young person.
The health service should offer counseling and support to children and young people with gender incongruence or gender dysphoria who are considering social transition or who have already begun to live in accordance with their gender identity in social contexts.
The health service should, at the earliest in the case of a preliminary diagnosis of gender dysphoria and after individual assessment, offer aids in order to make it easier for young people to be able to live in the social role that corresponds to their gender identity.
Treatment with GnRH analogue for adolescents with gender incongruence should be provided within the framework of research. Until a research study is in place, the National Board of Health and Welfare's assessment is that treatment with GnRH analogue can be given in exceptional cases, in accordance with the knowledge support's updated recommendations and criteria.
Gender-confirming hormone therapy with testosterone or estrogen for adolescents with gender incongruence should be provided as part of research. Until a research study is in place, the National Board of Health and Welfare's assessment is that gender-confirming hormone treatment can be given in exceptional cases, in accordance with the knowledge support's updated recommendations and criteria.
There are 122 cited references.