Gender-Affirming Surgeries Reduce Suicides

Suicide remains a leading cause of death among Veterans, and the risks are disproportionately higher for transgender Veterans. Gender-affirming surgeries are proven to significantly reduce suicide risk. While Veterans Health Administration offers several forms of gender-affirming care, initial surgeries are explicitly excluded.

The Partnered Evidence-based Policy Resource Center (PEPReC) published a policy brief discussing the health impacts of gender-affirming surgery and suggests there is an urgent need to consider adding initial surgical options to the Veteran benefits package. Read the full brief here.

PEPReC, within the Veterans Health Administration and funded in large part by the Quality Enhancement Research Initiative (QUERI), is a team of health economists, health services and public health researchers, statistical programmers, and policy analysts who engage policymakers to improve Veterans’ lives through evidence-driven innovations using advanced quantitative methods.

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