Transgender.org’s Post

Over 5% of high schoolers identify as trans or are questioning their gender, according to new CDC data. Trans students face higher rates of violence, housing insecurity, suicidal ideation, and feel less connected at school compared to their cisgender peers. 25.3% of trans and 26.4% of questioning students skipped school for safety concerns, compared to 8.5% of cisgender students. 40% of trans/questioning students were bullied, and over 70% reported feeling sad or hopeless. Alarmingly, 26% of trans/questioning students attempted suicide in the past year, compared to 8% of cisgender peers.

Data from CDC’s 2023 Youth Risk Behavior Survey show that transgender students and students questioning if they are transgender students were more likely to experience violence, poor mental health, suicidal thoughts and behaviors, and unstable housing, and less likely to feel connected to school than their cisgender peers. Teachers and school staff can support teens by creating safe and supportive environments inclusive of transgender students that help them feel connected to others at school. Explore the full report: https://bit.ly/su7304a6

The latest CDC data reveals improvements in U.S. teen mental health, with a decrease in students feeling persistently sad or hopeless—from 42% to 40%. Positive trends are seen specifically among female and Hispanic students regarding suicidal thoughts and attempts. However, concerning increases in school-based violence are evident, with reports of students threatened or injured with a weapon rising from 7% to 9% and bullying up from 15% to 19%. As schools reopen, addressing these issues is critical to ensure safe environments for all students, especially for vulnerable groups like girls and LGBTQ+ teens. #YouthMentalHealth #BehavioralHealth #MentalHealth

"Why wasn't I taught this?" I hear this question constantly from women in their 20s, 30s, 40s, and beyond. Our approach to women's health education is failing generations. Did you know? In the USA, most sexual education courses cover: - Abstinence - STI prevention - Contraception basics But they often miss crucial topics like: - Menstrual health and disorders - Reproductive system anatomy and function - Mental health aspects of sexual health - LGBTQ+ inclusive information - Consent and healthy relationships We need change from the ground up. Yes, fund research, but let's revolutionize education too. How can we advocate for the future generation? 1. Demand comprehensive health education in schools 2. Support initiatives providing accessible information 3. Develop innovative educational tools for in and out of the classroom 4. Push for policies prioritizing women's health education Let's stop scaring and start empowering our youth with knowledge about their bodies. Together, we can ensure the next generation won't have to ask, "Why didn't anyone tell me?" #WomensHealth #SexEd #HealthAdvocacy #EmpoweringWomen

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention survey reported in the The New York Times today reveals a reality that too often goes unseen: 3.3% of U.S. high school students identify as transgender, a percentage that amounts to over 511,000 kids - and a number that is likely underreported as well due to fear and/or ambivalence among students in embracing their true identity due to societal prejudice and straight up danger. For perspective, that’s a population larger than entire cities like Atlanta, Miami, and Minneapolis. These aren’t just numbers; they represent real teenagers, each with unique stories, challenges, and needs. The statistics are heartbreaking. 70% of transgender and questioning students report feeling persistent sadness or hopelessness for more than two weeks in the past year. Compare that to 50% of cisgender girls and 26% of cisgender boys. Even more alarming, 10% of trans students have sought medical treatment for a suicide attempt in the past year—compared to just 2.6% of cisgender girls and 1% of cisgender boys. These kids face bullying, discrimination, and immense mental health struggles. As leaders in media, marketing, and advertising, we have the power—and responsibility—to represent them with empathy and authenticity. Brands that understand this aren’t just checking a box; they’re showing these kids that they are seen, valued, and worthy of dignity. Representation isn’t just a buzzword; it’s a lifeline. Every campaign, every message, can either uplift or alienate. Let’s choose to create stories that offer hope and affirm the identities of those who need it most. Full article at https://lnkd.in/ehAy_vbi. #TransYouth #InclusionMatters #SeeAll ANA AIMM

"Evidence continues to pour in that students need help — and that schools are in a position to do so. Last year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found dramatic increases in mental health challenges for teen girls. Furthermore, data showed 70% of LGBTQ+ students said they experienced persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness, with more than 20% attempting suicide in 2022. The numbers also suggested high and worsening levels of persistent sadness or hopelessness spanned across racial and ethnic groups." https://lnkd.in/g-cBXmkE #studentmentalhealth #studentsuccess #kidsmentalhealth

New CDC data reveals a slight improvement in American teenagers' mental health, which previously was shown to be declining in recent years. For instance, from 2021 to 2023, high schoolers experiencing persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness decreased from 42% to 40%. However, there are still notable mental health disparities, especially among women and LGBTQ+ high schoolers. There is still significant work that must be done to address young people's mental health needs. Read more in the report here: https://lnkd.in/gxHdiZZA

One of our users is seeking advice from our community. They are experiencing muscle fatigue, brain fog, and difficulty concentrating while studying at university. As a result, they have reduced their timetable, but this has left them feeling isolated. Can you suggest any ways to help them navigate university with a disability? Moreover, their parents are having trouble understanding their disability, so they are hesitant to discuss it. What advice would you give? Please share your recommendations in the comments section below. 💬⬇️🩶 #AccessYourLife #Inclusion #DisabilitySupport #DisabilityAwareness #AYLcommunity

Parents: Did you know you have a say in Who, What, When, Where, Why and How your IEP team meets? Keep reading... 👇 Yep. You've got the power to propose and respond to an IEP meeting notice. Here's the secret. You have to ask your team What you are asking for BEFORE the meeting starts, in writing. Why? If you just talk about it at the meeting, there is NO guarantee any changes might actually happen. This is a HUGE challenge for lots of parents when it comes to evidencing DOCUMENTATION and proving what actually was talked about and discussed in the actual IEP. You have the ability to make things better with the right tools. Want my favorite how-tos to jump start your advocacy? Send me a DM sharing your challenges and I'll send you my fav. tips. 👉 What do you need for your next IEP? Send me a DM and I'll share my favorite tips. Top by https://lnkd.in/gGFV4M5G Necklace and ring by https://lnkd.in/gx5um6ZY Bracelet by https://lnkd.in/gUkwqgPi #iepreel #iepsupport #iepparent #parentingreel #parentingsupport #specialeducation #iep #disability #inclusion #spedteacher #learningdisabilities #adhd #autism #specialeducationadvocate

Misogyny is hatred of, contempt for, or prejudice against women or girls. TACKLING MISOGYNY IN SCHOOLS Margaret Mulholland, the special educational needs and inclusion specialist at the ASCL, has written an article about tackling misogyny in schools. She says she strongly supports the labour plans to introduce new approaches to tackling online misogyny and sexual harassment and the way in which that filters down into schools. She says we need to review what digital literacy means, and the safeguarding measures used to address misogynistic behaviour online, saying this is both a pastoral and a curriculum issue. She says there has been a shocking escalation in toxic behaviour permeating the interactions of young people that we should be addressing as a society. We must act now and not simply try to police the problem away with yet more calls for banning phones.   Research commissioned by Vodafone found that 69% of boys aged 11-14 have encountered online content promoting misogyny. 70% of teachers report seeing a rise in sexist language over the last year. In addition, 42% of parents have heard their sons making inappropriate comments based on their consumption of misogynistic, sexual and often violent comments shared online. Recent UCL research found a fourfold increase in the level of misogynistic content served to its sample audience by TikTok’s algorithm over a five-day period of monitoring.   Ms Mulholland says that in education, we are only in the early stages of understanding how social media algorithms work, and what the far-reaching effects of them are. It’s essential that we raise awareness and knowledge in this area. She says that it is important that young people, particularly boys, are involved in conversations about how to combat this problem and feel empowered to make good decisions and form healthy relationships. Peter Wanless, CEO of the NSPCC, has said that “today’s children are the first generation to be truly growing up online, but decisions about the online world are still being made without them”. Ms Mulholland says that blaming boys for consuming misogynistic content is not the answer. The real difficulty we face is that we are not teaching boys that they are being groomed to have certain views.   Cont... Misogyny is a form of sexism that can keep women at a lower social status than men, thus maintaining the social roles of patriarchy. It's not a new thing, and, is it getting better or worse?