They are not mentally ill. 1.5 million Americans do not suddenly become mentally ill. That’s leftist psycho-babble, brought to you by those that make money by providing “gender affirming healthcare”. It is evil. Evil cannot be dismissed if you believe in ‘good’. Evil needs to be destroyed, not affirmed.
You make good points, but I stand by my assertion they are mentally ill. Any person who truly believes they have the power to change their innate sex by simply declaring that they have, and with enough drugs and enough surgeries, has some form of “God-complex”. That is, a person who thinks they possess the power of God (and who demands everyone else recognize and accept that power) “ain’t right in the head” ... and pandering to their psychosis under the guise of “fairness” and “equity” and “compassion” has only made things worse ... much worse.
So, not mentally ill, but emotionally disturbed. Emotionally disturbed by their parents and other influences to the point of mental illness. It isn't sudden but gradual.