Is there actually solid evidence that gender-affirming care helps?

Yes, there is. The evidence base is substantial and consistent across multiple countries and studies. Gender-affirming care improves mental health outcomes and reduces pressure on mental health services. That is not contested in the international research community. What is your main concern when you hear people questioning this care?

Why does the UK keep reviewing evidence we already have?

Honestly, that is the question many of us are asking too. When a country spends £14 million re-examining settled questions instead of investing in training, access, and implementation, it raises real concerns about priorities. The evidence supports this care. The people who need it are still waiting. What would make the most difference for you or someone you care about right now?

Australia confirms it. The UK spends £14m doubting it.

Substack 20 February 2026

Australian research confirms what evidence already shows

New Australian research confirms what the international evidence base has shown consistently: gender-affirming care improves mental health outcomes and reduces the burden on mental health services. While countries like Australia invest in implementation, the UK is spending nearly £14 million to revisit settled ground, and that is a choice worth examining.

There is something sobering about watching a country invest nearly £14 million to re-examine what the international evidence base has already established. Australia's latest research adds to a substantial global body of work showing that gender-affirming care improves mental health outcomes and reduces the burden on mental health services. This is not new territory.

The question many of us are asking is not whether the evidence supports gender-affirming care—it does, consistently, across multiple rigorous studies. The question is why we continue to commission expensive reviews of the same ground, rather than investing those resources into implementation, training, and equitable access to care for the people who need it most.

I have written more about this research and what it means for our approach to gender-affirming healthcare in the UK. I would encourage you to read the full piece.

In response to: £14 Million to Question What the Rest of the World Already Knows (Substack)