A new study has shown that conversion therapy for LGBTQ+ youth is harmful. The LGBTQ+ community has come a long way in fighting for equal rights and using their voice. This has given power to youth to also speak their truth and be who they feel they really are. However, this comes with heavy stigma and there are methods that parents and experts may want to explore, all in the name of “helping” a youth. Conversion therapy is one of those routes, and studies are consistently being done to see if this type of treatment is helping, or if it is harming.According to US News, a new study has found that conversion therapy is harming LGBTQ+ teenagers. This is only one of the multiple studies that have been done showing that it causes harm. Conversion therapy is a treatment that is aimed at making the LGBTQ+ community “straight.”The study, which can be read in full here, looked at data from 28 published studies on conversion therapy, and it found that those who are made to go through it are suffering from more psychological distress and had much higher rates of depression and substance abuse.They also found that they had an increase in suicide attempts. This is also a costly form of treatment, and it costs nearly $100,000 per person. The researchers also stated that based on reports, there is an estimated more than half a million youth in the US who are at risk of conversion therapy. This means that conversion therapy costs the US over $9.2 billion every year, which researchers say is a cost that is causing harm to youth, and not helping them. Researchers are also stating that they need policymakers to stop funding for conversion therapy, because of the harm it has on youth, and that they need to protect them.
That focus should be on helping LGBTQ+ youth access therapy that is going to help them, and not harm them. That is going to help support them in their life, and give them the skills they need to thrive.
Conversion therapy is banned in 20 states, but there are others that routinely practice it, and it is not only harming the youth, it is also costing everyone a lot of money and these are things that need to be addressed. Experts stated that parents need to be mindful of this and that they do acknowledge that parents truly believe they are helping their child when they consider conversion therapy, but it is actually harming them.
Sources: US News, JAMA Network