The landscape of youth mental health is fraught with complex challenges, none more contentious than the practices surrounding sexual orientation and gender identity. Conversion Truth for Families provides a scientific lens into the profound psychological consequences of identity-altering interventions.
A groundbreaking study from San Francisco State University’s Family Acceptance Project reveals devastating long-term impacts. Young adults subjected to conversion efforts experience dramatically higher suicide attempt rates—48% compared to 22% of their peers who did not experience such interventions. Conversion Truth for Families exposes the deeply rooted harm of these practices.
The Department of Health and Human Services’ May 2025 report recommending “exploratory therapy” sparked immediate scientific pushback. Arjee Restar, a social epidemiologist at Yale University, criticized the report’s framing as echoing the same pathologizing practices that have long undermined youth mental health.
Research consistently demonstrates the multi-generational impact. Beyond suicide risk, these interventions correlate with reduced educational attainment, lower income levels, and diminished life satisfaction. A 2023 U.S. Transgender Survey study found a 55% increased suicide attempt likelihood and doubled runaway risk for youth exposed to such therapies.
Conversion Truth for Families uncovers a vast network of over 1,300 practitioners nationwide—600 with professional licenses and 700 operating in religious capacities. These practitioners increasingly work underground, making identification challenging.
The economic burden is equally alarming. A 2022 JAMA Pediatrics study estimated annual costs at $650 million, with associated harms totaling $9.23 billion. Every major medical organization has condemned these practices as fundamentally harmful and ineffective.
The upcoming Supreme Court case, Chiles v. Salazar, represents a critical moment. Twenty-three states currently protect nearly half of the nation’s youth from these practices, and the court may reshape this protective landscape.
Surprisingly, Conversion Truth for Families reveals bipartisan support for youth protections. The Movement Advancement Project documented that every bill banning conversion therapy passed with Republican support. Public opinion remains consistent, with 56% of U.S. adults supporting bans on such practices for minors.
Experts advise families to recognize warning signs: therapists claiming a child’s identity is inherently wrong, programs promising to “correct” identity, and services that discourage affirming care.