21.2 All Hands on Deck: A Call for Collaboration Between Pediatrics and Psychiatry in Working With Gender-Diverse Youth

Abstract

Pediatricians and adolescent medicine specialists play an important role in the provision of competent care for gender-diverse youth and often lead many of the gender pediatric clinics in North America. At the same time, the perspective of adolescent medicine specialists who emphasize the increasing autonomy of youth often conflicts with the perspective of parents and caregivers ultimately challenging the goals of patient- and family-centered care. Child and adolescent psychiatrists have a unique role in not only addressing and clarifying the mental health needs of such youth but also situating these needs within the context of the family unit.