What is the best way to balance an individual’s right to express their identity with the need to protect them from possibly making irreversible choices too early?

Making sure the topic is well understood. This includes destigmatising it and ensuring an environment where the individual can freely talk about it or discuss it. Ensure they know what they're getting into, which also involves parental education. But also, recent studies show essentially 1% of transgender people who undergo gender-affirming surgery report future regret. Gender expression is typically cemented around the age of 4. Considering transgender people have a disproportionally higher prevalence of depression, low self-worth and suicide rates, I'd say available options for…  Read more early transition should be available for the people who need them. Existing research has shown that when denied transitioning options, 32-50% of transgender people have attempted suicide. I think focusing on the discourse "what if they make the mistake" isn't really getting to the heart of the problem at hand.