Supporting gender diversity for young people

Recognising and establishing Statewide community-based specialised services including a Sexuality, Sex and Gender Diversity service, was a priority set out in the Western Australian Mental Health, Alcohol and Other Drug Services Plan 2015-2025.

Seeing the importance of this, the Mental Health Commission (MHC) promptly established purchasing for this service and the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) Gender Diversity Service was established in 2015.

The service provides multidisciplinary assessment, care and treatment for children and adolescents up to 18 years of age with persistent gender dysphoria.

Between 2015 and April 2017, 243 young people were referred to the service with the majority of young people and their families requiring information, guidance, consultation and advice.

You can visit the CAMHS website for more information about the service and other mental health services for children and young people.

The Commission also supports the Freedom Centre, a community based organisation, which is available to support young people with a diverse range of sexualities and genders.