A leading child psychiatrist from Finland, Professor Riittakerttu Kaltiala, has advised her government not to lower the age to change one’s gender below 18.
Professor Kaltiala, who is a professor of youth psychology at Tampere University, says that the vast majority of children who identify as the opposite sex will grow out of their gender confusion by adulthood.
According to the professor, four out of five children who identify as the opposite sex will grow out of it, and three out of four patients also have serious mental health problems, including learning difficulties, developmental problems, and issues of child protection.
Professor Kaltiala also dismisses the idea that hormone treatment and gender confirmation are necessary to prevent self-harm, calling it “purposeful disinformation” and saying that suicidal behavior is a result of accompanying psychiatric disorders.
The psychologist believes that affirming a child’s perceived gender by changing their legal status pushes them in that particular direction, and that youth development tasks are not promoted by supporting and guiding the youth’s self-expression from the outside.
Professor Kaltiala notes that the number of children identifying as the opposite gender has increased tenfold since 2015 and says that it is best to give the child peace of mind while monitoring the situation, and treating anxiety as it develops.
“Acceptance is saying that you are a boy who feels like you are a girl. It’s okay and you can be who you are and let’s see what happens when you grow up,” says Kaltiala.
