Why Using the Right Names and Pronouns Protects LGBTQIA+ Young People’s Mental Health

For transgender and gender‑diverse young people, being addressed by the correct name and pronouns is far more than a courtesy. It is a fundamental part of safety, dignity, and mental health. In Australia, LGBTQIA+ young people continue to experience disproportionate levels of discrimination, invalidation, and psychological distress. As professionals working with young people, we play a critical role in reducing harm and fostering environments where identity is respected.

Using a young person’s correct name and pronouns is more than a courtesy.

What Are Deadnaming and Misgendering?

Deadnaming refers to using a transgender person’s former or birth name after they have adopted a new one.

Misgendering occurs when incorrect pronouns or gendered terms are used.

Both actions (intentional or accidental) can cause significant emotional harm. They signal to a young person that their identity is not recognised or accepted, which can undermine trust and safety in support settings.

Mental Health Impacts: What the Evidence Shows

Identity invalidation increases mental health risk

Transgender young people who are regularly misgendered or deadnamed are more likely to experience depression, anxiety, self‑harm, and suicidal ideation (Prosper, 2019). These impacts are not inherent to being transgender; they arise from stigma, rejection, and minority stress.

Affirmation is protective

Using a young person’s chosen name and pronouns is a powerful protective factor. Research shows that transgender and non‑binary youth whose pronouns are respected attempt suicide at half the rate of those whose pronouns are not respected (The Trevor Project, 2022).

Social transition improves wellbeing

When young people are supported to socially transition (using their chosen name, pronouns, and gender expression) their mental health outcomes improve significantly, often aligning with those of their cisgender peers (headspace, 2022).

Trauma and dysphoria

Deadnaming can trigger trauma responses, intensify gender dysphoria, and reinforce feelings of alienation. For many young people, their birth name is associated with distress or past experiences of rejection.

Australian Context: What Local Data Tells Us

High rates of discrimination

The Queer Youth Now national survey found that LGBTQIA+ young people continue to experience elevated levels of harassment, with 53% reporting verbal harassment and 18% reporting threats in the previous 12 months (Minus18, 2024). Misgendering was reported by the majority of transgender and gender‑diverse participants.

Elevated suicide risk

Australian suicide monitoring data shows LGBTQIA+ people experience significantly higher rates of suicidal thoughts and behaviours than the general population (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare [AIHW], 2024). These disparities are strongly linked to discrimination and identity invalidation.

Legal recognition matters

Young people who can update their legal name and gender markers experience lower rates of suicide attempts and psychological distress (LGBTIQ+ Health Australia, 2023). However, many still face barriers in schools, health systems, and government processes.

What Can You Do?

1. Use chosen names and pronouns consistently

Use them in all contexts, records, conversations, group settings, and documentation. Consistency builds trust and safety.

2. Correct mistakes briefly

A simple, “Sorry. They are waiting for you,” is enough. Over‑apologising can increase discomfort.

3. Advocate for inclusive systems

Ensure enrolment forms, intake processes, and digital systems allow for chosen names and pronouns. Advocate for organisational policies that prevent accidental deadnaming.

4. Address discrimination

Challenge misgendering, bullying, or exclusion when it occurs. Silence can be experienced as endorsement.

5. Build your cultural competence

Understanding gender diversity is part of professional responsibility when working with young people.

Why This Matters

Affirming a young person’s identity is a simple, evidence‑based, and life‑saving practice. As an educator and trainer, I see firsthand how something as seemingly small as a name can shape a young person’s sense of safety. Each year, I navigate the practical challenges of mismatched student records, enrolment data that cannot be edited, and government systems that still require the use of legal names even when those names no longer reflect a young person’s identity. These structural limitations can unintentionally create moments of harm, particularly for transgender and gender‑diverse students who are already navigating minority stress. 

My practice is grounded in trauma‑informed principles, which means I prioritise emotional safety, choice, collaboration, and empowerment in every learning environment I facilitate. Affirming a young person’s chosen name and pronouns is a core part of this. It supports psychosocial health and safety by reducing the risk of identity‑based harm, strengthening trust, and ensuring that every student feels recognised on their own terms.

Because of this, I intentionally embed opportunities for young people to share their preferred names and pronouns from the very beginning of our work together. I make sure these are used consistently, in conversations, group activities, written materials, and classroom routines. This is not just an inclusive practice; it is a protective one. It communicates clearly: I see you, I respect you, and you deserve to be addressed as who you are.

References

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. (2024). LGBTQIA+SB people: Suicide and self-harm monitoring. AIHW. https://www.aihw.gov.au/suicide-self-harm-monitoring/population-groups/lgbtqia-sb-people

Prosper, S (2019). Supporting trans and gender diverse children and their families, Emerging Minds. https://emergingminds.com.au/resources/supporting-trans-and-gender-diverse-children-and-their-families/

headspace National Youth Mental Health Foundation. (2022). Trans and gender diverse young people: Mental health and social transition. https://headspace.org.au/explore-topics/for-young-people/trans-resources/

LGBTIQ+ Health Australia. (2021). Snapshot of mental health and wellbeing of LGBTIQA+ communities. https://www.lgbtiqhealth.org.au/statistics

Minus18. (2024). Queer Youth Now: National survey of LGBTQIA+ young people. https://www.minus18.org.au/national-survey-2025/?srsltid=AfmBOooVLpwpojZQ-CRpS_Knzmg1KJSllp_GaC3TD883qdqQ7XTP_LJZ

The Trevor Project. (2022). National survey on LGBTQ youth mental health. https://www.thetrevorproject.org/survey-2022/