{"id":8172,"date":"2024-05-11T20:46:49","date_gmt":"2024-05-11T17:46:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/transwiki.co.il\/?post_type=articles&p=8172"},"modified":"2025-06-19T05:02:25","modified_gmt":"2025-06-19T02:02:25","slug":"familial-support","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/transwiki.co.il\/en\/articles\/familial-support\/","title":{"rendered":"Familial Support"},"content":{"rendered":"

In this article, we will discuss existing assistance for families of people on the trans spectrum and the importance of familial support. If you don’t have family support, you can turn to <\/span>support hotlines<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>temporary<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>long-term<\/span><\/a> housing solutions.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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The Importance of Familial Support<\/span><\/h1>\n

Family recognition of gender identity is very important for the self-acceptance process of people on the trans spectrum.\u00a0<\/span>
\n<\/span>Adolescence is a time of developing an identity and sense of self for all teens, and open dialogue with parents is an important part of that.<\/span>
\n<\/span>In a research study1<\/a><\/sup>https:\/\/www.transwiki.co.il\/%d7%90%d7%a0%d7%a9%d7%99%d7%9d-%d7%98%d7%a8%d7%a0%d7%a1%d7%92%d7%a0%d7%93%d7%a8%d7%99%d7%9d-%d7%91%d7%99%d7%a9%d7%a8%d7%90%d7%9c-%d7%92%d7%95%d7%a8%d7%9e%d7%99-%d7%9c%d7%97%d7%a5-%d7%9e%d7%a9\/<\/span><\/span> about teens on the trans spectrum in Israel, it was found that family support was the most important factor in the teens’ mental health.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Sometimes parents feel that if they push away the child’s trans identity, they can help the child get over their “gender issues” and prepare for life. In practice, familial support is important to mitigate the negative aspects of coming out of the closet (such as stigma, oppression, and discrimination), and familial support also helps reduce depression and suicidality, improves self-esteem, and improves the ability to function in various areas (for example \u2013 the quality of relationships and partnerships). On the other hand, studies show2<\/a><\/sup>https:\/\/www.transwiki.co.il\/%d7%94%d7%94%d7%95%d7%a8%d7%99%d7%9d-%d7%9b%d7%91%d7%a1%d7%99%d7%a1-%d7%91%d7%98%d7%95%d7%97-%d7%9c%d7%9e%d7%aa%d7%91%d7%92%d7%a8-%d7%91%d7%aa%d7%94%d7%9c%d7%99%d7%9a-%d7%94%d7%99%d7%a6%d7%99%d7%90\/<\/span><\/span> that rejection by family correlates with higher levels of loneliness, depression, and suicidality in trans teens. That is, the more antagonistic family relationships are perceived to be, the higher the risk of suicidal thoughts, and even more, the higher the risk of suicidal behaviors is in people on the trans spectrum. By contrast, the more supportive a family is, the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors lessens.3<\/a><\/sup>https:\/\/www.transwiki.co.il\/%d7%9e%d7%90%d7%a4%d7%99%d7%99%d7%a0%d7%99%d7%9d-%d7%95%d7%a6%d7%a8%d7%9b%d7%99%d7%9d-%d7%a9%d7%9c-%d7%90-%d7%a0%d7%a9%d7%99%d7%9d-%d7%a2%d7%9c-%d7%94%d7%a7%d7%a9%d7%aa-%d7%94%d7%98%d7%a8%d7%a0%d7%a1\/<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Sometimes it can take the family a long time to accept and reconcile, and sometimes it may never happen. Family members\u2019 responses may change over time, and relationships that were defined by conflict and rejection may change and bring acceptance, intimacy, and support. It is possible that very difficult responses from parents can lead to the safety of the relationship and communication wavering, but positive experiences when sharing with parents may enable healing of the relationship so that the parents are perceived as more supportive and emotionally available.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Characteristics of Familial Acceptance:<\/span><\/h2>\n