Support and services for transgender children
It is essential for all children and young people to have the opportunity to develop a strong sense of identity and feel at peace with who they are. Education for those working with transgender children and young people—as well as for their immediate family—plays a vital role in improving these youths' well-being in school and service settings. Below are helpful definitions and information regarding transgender issues.
Gender identity
Gender identity is our internal sense of self as a gendered person, shaping how we choose to live and express that identity in our daily lives. This concept is entirely separate from sex characteristics and physical appearance. Individuals may identify as men, women, or non-binary. A person is considered transgender when the sex assigned to them at birth does not align with their gender identity. The contrast to this is being cisgender, a term describing people whose gender identity aligns with the sex they were assigned at birth.
Gender Expression
Gender expression is how we outwardly present our gender—for example, through clothing, behavior, and overall appearance. While often described as feminine or masculine, it takes many forms: not all men present as masculine, not all women present as feminine, and not all non-binary people have an atypical gender expression. People with an atypical gender expression are not necessarily LGBT+, so it is important to avoid making assumptions about someone's sexual orientation, gender identity, or sex characteristics based solely on how they present.
Gender & Pronouns
An Icelandic term for non-binary adults is “kvár”. An Icelandic term for non-binary children is “stálp”. These terms are comparable to other gendered terms we use for adults and children such as woman, man, girl and boy. Non-binary people often use gender-neutral pronouns like they/them (hán), but there are a few pronouns in use, and it's always best to ask if you have any doubts. It is important to remember that pronouns such as they/them or hán are not nouns or names, and it is important to do your best to use it correctly.
|
Woman
|
Man
|
Non-binary adult (kvár)
|
|
Girl
|
Boy
|
Non-binary child (stálp)
|
|
She
|
He
|
They (hán*)
|
*Note that there are more gender-neutral pronouns in use and it is good to ask them if you do not know which first name to use.
Transgender children and support for immediate families
Clinical experience shows that transgender children face higher rates of anger, anxiety, and depression than their peers, making them more likely to engage in self-harm, struggle with eating disorders, and navigate other mental health challenges—often because of dysphoria related to their assigned sex. This is particularly true in those trans children who experience silence and suppression of their gender identity.
It is key, therefore, that trans children receive support and respect, especially from their immediate families. You can read books about trans children both for adults and also with children to increase knowledge and open up conversations about feelings, gender, and gender identity.
When a child is coming out as trans, or with a different gender identity than expected, it is good for providers and immediate family members to seek advice and support. You can obtain this free of charge from Samtokin '78, which offer counseling service and maintain a support group for the trans children’s next of kin.
Within the healthcare system, the transgender team at Landspítali Hospital's Child & Youth Psychiatric Ward (BUGL) provides public services and support for transgender children and their immediate families. Services for transgender young people follow international protocols and clinical guidelines that reflect current best practices and leading medical expertise.
Social support for transgender children
For transgender children, support focuses heavily on social aspects. This can include allowing them to change their clothing, appearance, or other aspects of their gender expression, alongside using a different
name and pronouns. While these changes are simple and easily reversible, they
can be profoundly meaningful and important for the child.
Children and their immediate families can access support and counseling through the transgender team at Landspítali Hospital's Child & Youth Psychiatric Ward. Children in Iceland do not undergo surgery, hormone therapy, or any permanent physical changes.
Healthcare services for transgender young people
Following a diagnosis, young people can access support and healthcare services through the transgender team at Landspítali Hospital's Child & Youth Psychiatric
Ward. Young people who receive a diagnosis and have entered puberty may access puberty blockers, a treatment provided in close consultation with guardians and clinical professionals.
This applies when young people experience gender dysphoria—a profound sense of distress and anxiety—related to their body and the physical changes of puberty. Puberty blockers effectively pause puberty, giving young people the time and space to decide at a later, more mature stage whether they wish to pursue further interventions.
If a young person decides to continue with their natal puberty, they simply stop taking the blockers and the process naturally resumes. If a young person chooses to continue on the same path, they may request to begin hormone therapy at age 16, as the Patient Rights Act No. 74/1997 grants all young people the right to make their own healthcare decisions from that age.
No surgical procedures are performed in Iceland until after the age of 18.
Services for individuals 18 and older
Landspítali Hospital's transgender team also serves adults, providing access to hormone therapy, surgery, and other interventions tailored to each person's individual needs and wishes.
Research shows that accessible healthcare for transgender young people and adults is critical to supporting their welfare, well-being, and quality of life, with satisfaction among service users of gender-affirming care ranking among the highest of any healthcare service users.
