232
29
th
CONGRESS OF THE ESPU
14:40–14:50
S4-2 (LO)
DYNAMIC ROLE OF PUBLIC RELATION IN COUNSELLING
OF GENDER IN ADOLESCENTS: ETHICS, EMOTIONS
& MORALS IN INDIAN SCENARIO
Neeraj DIXIT, Shridhar GHAGANE and R.B. NERLI
Department of Urology, KLES Kidney Foundation, KLES Dr. Prabhakar Kore Hospital & MRC, Belagavi, Ind, Department
of Urology, Belagavi, INDIA
PURPOSE
Transgender individuals are people whose self-identification as male, female, both, or neither (gen-
der identity) does not match their assigned gender. The phenomenon of transgender is uncommon,
but as more media attention is directed toward the subject, more adolescents and young adults are
“coming out” at an earlier age. This paper examines the responsibilities of public relation counsellor
to counsel to those who identify or might be identifiable as “transgendered” at our tertiary care
centre.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
During the study period from 2010 to 2016, 23 patients approached the urological services with
confused gender status (Male/Female or Both). The study involves two main objectives. The first
is to describe the critical reflection necessary to deal with gender-variant clients in an ethical and
effective manner. The second is to discuss a psychotherapeutic model that is likely to be effective
in integrating such reflection into the clinical process, and to make counselling recommendations
on that basis.
RESULTS
Upon counselling the patients are interviewed several times in-depth. We could able to judged that
comprehensive psychological, social & moral health support is extremely difficult for these youth,
who are at risk for multiple psychosocial problems including family and peer rejection, harassment,
trauma, abuse, inadequate housing, legal problems, lack of financial support, and educational
problems. The findings of this study suggests that interpersonal stigma also functions to strengthen
medical power and authority in the face of provider uncertainty. Within functional theories of stigma,
it is important to acknowledge the role of public relation counsellor to understand how defaming
attitudes function to maintain systems of inequality that contribute to health disparities.
CONCLUSIONS
The study reveals that timely psychosocial intervention to achieve gender/body congruence paired
with affirmative mental health therapy as an appropriate approach to minimize negative health
outcomes and maximize positive futures for transgender juveniles.