Editing Conversion therapy (section)

==Medical views==
{{main|Medical views of conversion therapy}}

National health organizations around the world have uniformly denounced and criticized sexual orientation and gender identity change efforts.<ref name=":3" /><ref name="Lambda">{{cite news|title=Health and Medical Organization Statements on Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity/Expression and 'Reparative Therapy'|url=https://www.lambdalegal.org/publications/health-and-med-orgs-stmts-on-sex-orientation-and-gender-identity|newspaper=Lambda Legal|access-date=16 December 2017|archive-date=15 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170615154255/https://www.lambdalegal.org/publications/health-and-med-orgs-stmts-on-sex-orientation-and-gender-identity|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="HRC">{{cite web|title=Policy and Position Statements on Conversion Therapy|url=http://www.hrc.org/resources/policy-and-position-statements-on-conversion-therapy|website=Human Rights Campaign|access-date=12 April 2017|archive-date=27 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170427021742/http://www.hrc.org/resources/policy-and-position-statements-on-conversion-therapy}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=December 2021 |title=Memorandum of Understanding on Conversion Therapy in the UK |url=https://www.psychotherapy.org.uk/media/cptnc5qm/mou2.pdf |publisher=[[United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy]] |access-date=31 May 2023 |archive-date=24 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240924072651/https://www.psychotherapy.org.uk/media/cptnc5qm/mou2.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> They state that there has been no scientific demonstration of "conversion therapy's" efficacy.<ref name="APA" /><ref name="APA-Answers">{{cite web | url=http://www.apa.org/topics/lgbt/orientation.aspx | title=Answers to Your Questions: For a Better Understanding of Sexual Orientation and Homosexuality | publisher=American Psychological Association | date=2008 | access-date=31 January 2015 | archive-date=20 January 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190120024548/https://www.apa.org/topics/lgbt/orientation.aspx | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="APA_Position" /><ref name="PsychNews">{{citation |title=APA Maintains Reparative Therapy Not Effective |url=http://www.psychiatricnews.org/pnews/99-01-15/therapy.html |publisher=Psychiatric News (news division of the American Psychiatric Association) |date=15 January 1999 |access-date=28 August 2007 |archive-date=20 August 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080820042149/http://www.psychiatricnews.org/pnews/99-01-15/therapy.html }}</ref> They find that conversion therapy is ineffective, risky and can be harmful. Anecdotal claims of cures are counterbalanced by assertions of harm, and the American Psychiatric Association, for example, cautions ethical practitioners under the [[Hippocratic oath]] to do no harm and to refrain from attempts at conversion therapy.<ref name="APA_Position">{{cite web|url=http://www.psych.org/Departments/EDU/Library/APAOfficialDocumentsandRelated/PositionStatements/200001a.aspx |title=Therapies Focused on Attempts to Change Sexual Orientation |publisher=Psych.org |access-date=18 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080910045820/http://www.psych.org/Departments/EDU/Library/APAOfficialDocumentsandRelated/PositionStatements/200001a.aspx |archive-date=10 September 2008 }}</ref> Furthermore, they state that conversion therapy is harmful and that it often exploits individuals' guilt and anxiety, thereby damaging self-esteem and leading to depression and even suicide.<ref name="nytconversion">{{citation |last=Luo |first=Michael |title=Some Tormented by Homosexuality Look to a Controversial Therapy |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/12/nyregion/12group.html |work=The New York Times |page=1 |date=12 February 2007 |access-date=28 August 2007 |archive-date=20 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190420120908/https://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/12/nyregion/12group.html |url-status=live }}</ref> A 2025 study completed by the [[American Medical Association]] found that 42% of those subjected to conversion therapy attempted suicide, compared to 5% of those not subjected to these practices.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ama-assn.org/system/files/conversion-therapy-issue-brief.pdf|title=Sexual orientation and gender identity change efforts (so-called “conversion therapy”)|website=American Medical Association|access-date=February 5, 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.citybeat.com/contributor-news-2/why-families-of-faith-are-turning-to-conversion-truth-for-families-before-making-life-changing-decisions/|title=Why Families of Faith Are Turning to Conversion Truth for Families Before Making Life-Changing Decisions|website=City Beat|date=January 15, 2026|author=Tom White|access-date=February 5, 2026}}</ref> For transgender individuals in particular, exposure to conversion therapy before age 10 is associated with a fourfold increase in the risk of lifetime suicide attempts compared to peers who received other forms of therapy.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/transgender-conversion-therapy-associated-severe-psychological-distress-n1052416|title=Transgender 'conversion therapy' associated with 'severe psychological distress'|website=NBC|date=September 11, 2019|author=Tim Fitzsimmons|access-date=February 5, 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/fullarticle/2749479|title=Association Between Recalled Exposure to Gender Identity Conversion Efforts and Psychological Distress and Suicide Attempts Among Transgender Adults|website=JAMA Psychiatry|date=September 11, 2019|author1=Jack L. Turban|author2=Noor Beckwith|author3=Sari L. Reisner|access-date=February 5, 2026}}</ref> 

There is also concern in the mental health community that the advancement of conversion therapy can cause social harm by disseminating inaccurate views about gender identity, sexual orientation, and the ability of LGBT people to lead happy, healthy lives.<ref name="HRC" /> Various medical bodies prohibit their members from practicing conversion therapy.<ref>{{cite news |title=Albania becomes third European country to ban gay 'conversion therapy' |url=https://www.france24.com/en/20200516-albania-becomes-third-european-country-to-ban-gay-conversion-therapy |access-date=30 June 2022 |work=France 24 |date=16 May 2020 |language=en |archive-date=24 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200524174458/https://www.france24.com/en/20200516-albania-becomes-third-european-country-to-ban-gay-conversion-therapy |url-status=live }}</ref>