LGBTQ rights in Finland

===Access to healthcare===

===Access to healthcare===

In 2020, Finland overhauled its treatment standards for transgender adults to prioritize "[[conversion therapy|psychosocial therapy]]", with medical transition only being allowed in the event that "the dysphoria associated with gender identity is persistent (> 2 years), that the person can consistently describe how the dysphoria is harmful to them in everyday situations and that it can be reliably established that the dysphoria is detrimental to their social life or professional career or causes significant suffering".<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://palveluvalikoima.fi/documents/1237350/22895838/Summary+transgender.pdf/2cc3f053-2e34-39ce-4e21-becd685b3044/Summary+transgender.pdf |title=Medical treatments for gender dysphoria that reduces functional capacity in transgender people – recommendation}}</ref> Finland also issued new guidelines for the treatment of transgender youth, defined as until age 25, stating that "the first-line intervention for gender variance during childhood and adolescent years is psychosocial support and, as necessary, gender-explorative therapy and treatment for comorbid psychiatric disorders" and that medical intervention can only be given on a "case-by-case basis".<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://segm.org/sites/default/files/Finnish_Guidelines_2020_Minors_Unofficial%20Translation.pdf |title=Recommendation of the Council for Choices in Health Care in Finland (PALKO / COHERE Finland)}}</ref>

In 2020, Finland overhauled its treatment standards for transgender adults to prioritize "[[conversion therapy|psychosocial therapy]]", with medical transition only being allowed in the event that "the dysphoria associated with gender identity is persistent (> 2 years), that the person can consistently describe how the dysphoria is harmful to them in everyday situations and that it can be reliably established that the dysphoria is detrimental to their social life or professional career or causes significant suffering".<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://palveluvalikoima.fi/documents/1237350/22895838/Summary+transgender.pdf/2cc3f053-2e34-39ce-4e21-becd685b3044/Summary+transgender.pdf |title=Medical treatments for gender dysphoria that reduces functional capacity in transgender people – recommendation}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Doubts are growing about therapy for gender-dysphoric children |url=https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2021/05/13/doubts-are-growing-about-therapy-for-gender-dysphoric-children |newspaper=The Economist |access-date=19 March 2024 |archive-date=3 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221203134018/https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2021/05/13/doubts-are-growing-about-therapy-for-gender-dysphoric-children |url-status=live}}</ref> Finland also issued new guidelines for the treatment of transgender youth, defined as until age 25, stating that "the first-line intervention for gender variance during childhood and adolescent years is psychosocial support and, as necessary, gender-explorative therapy and treatment for comorbid psychiatric disorders", but the Council for Choices in Health Care still allows the use of puberty blockers in transgender youth after a case-by-case assessment if there are no medical contraindications.<ref name=":COHERE1">{{cite web |date=16 June 2020 |title=Medical treatment methods for dysphoria associated with variations in gender identity in minors – recommendation |url=https://palveluvalikoima.fi/documents/1237350/22895008/Summary_minors_en.pdf/aaf9a6e7-b970-9de9-165c-abedfae46f2e/Summary_minors_en.pdf |access-date=4 May 2023 |website=Council for Choices in Health Care in Finland (Palveluvalikoima) |language=en-GB |archive-date=15 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230315041312/https://palveluvalikoima.fi/documents/1237350/22895008/Summary_minors_en.pdf/aaf9a6e7-b970-9de9-165c-abedfae46f2e/Summary_minors_en.pdf |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |vauthors=Karjaralainen J |date=2020-06-26 |title="Jos olisin lääkäri, minua pelottaisi ihan hirveästi antaa diagnooseja", sanoo transmies Susi Nousiainen – transsukupuolisten uusista hoitosuosituksista nousi kohu, tästä siinä on kyse |url=https://yle.fi/a/3-11419004 |access-date=2024-03-17 |language=fi |archive-date=25 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240225080233/https://yle.fi/a/3-11419004 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://segm.org/sites/default/files/Finnish_Guidelines_2020_Minors_Unofficial%20Translation.pdf |title=Recommendation of the Council for Choices in Health Care in Finland (PALKO / COHERE Finland)}}</ref>

A survey conducted by [[Seta_(organization)|Seta]] found that over 40% of trans respondents were entirely unable to access the care they needed, with the majority of respondents reporting extended waiting times for care.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.ilga-europe.org/files/uploads/2023/02/annual-review-2023.pdf |publisher=ILGA-Europe |title=2023 Annual Review of the Human Rights Situation of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Iintersex People in Europe and Central Asia}}</ref>

A survey conducted by [[Seta_(organization)|Seta]] found that over 40% of trans respondents were entirely unable to access the care they needed, with the majority of respondents reporting extended waiting times for care.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.ilga-europe.org/files/uploads/2023/02/annual-review-2023.pdf |publisher=ILGA-Europe |title=2023 Annual Review of the Human Rights Situation of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Iintersex People in Europe and Central Asia}}</ref>