Transgender Health

23 February 2012

Judi Brown

Transition

Extremely stressful and can be disabling; the biggest change anyone can make to their lives

Many lose jobs, friends, family and homes, often all in one go and trans people need support

Only 20% feel they have encountered no problems1

34.4% say they have attempted suicide at least once1.

1 Engendered Penalties – Whittle, Turner and Al-Alami – The Equalities Review, Feb 2007

Quality of Life1

Trans respondents are three times more likely than non-trans respondents to have an income of less than £10,000 a year

Only 26% of trans respondents are in full-time employment

Trans people are more likely to be parents or closely related to a child compared with LGB people

35% of trans respondents are disabled or have a long-term health impairment.

1Count Me In Too Trans People Report – Browne & Lim – Dec 2008

The NHS Experience1

Over 68% of trans people who have used NHS gender identity clinics say that the quality of care they received was poor or very poor

Many trans people strongly object to the presumption that a desire to transition is a sign of mental illness

This further stigmatises trans individuals and provides a ‘one-size-fits-all’ understanding of diverse experiences.

1Count Me In Too Trans People Report – Browne & Lim – Dec 2008

Mental Health1

Gender Dysphoria is not a mental health problem, although it is treated as one by most of the medical profession

The stresses of coming to terms GD and going through transition can trigger mental health issues

Inevitably leads to loss of confidence and self esteem

Can lead to isolation, depression, self harm and suicide.

1Count Me In Too Trans People Report – Browne & Lim – Dec 2008

Sexual Health1

Trans people are more likely (56%) than non-trans people (37%) to not know where to find help around sex and relationships

Trans people are more likely (38%) than non-trans people (24%) to say they have never had a sexual health check up.

1Count Me In Too Trans People Report – Browne & Lim – Dec 2008

What Trans People Want1

Over 65% of trans respondents would like a specialist local service

51% cite the need for a specialist GP

53% say that psychotherapy could have improved their experience of transition

47% of trans people said that their transition would have been improved by better information.

1Count Me In Too Trans People Report – Browne & Lim – Dec 2008

What To Do?

Note that there is a complete blank in JSNAs about the health needs of the trans community

Consult with transgender support groups

Start monitoring for trans to understand the local demographics and who is accessing services …

… But use the right questions

Use the ‘Top ten tips for health and social care workers to help make your services inclusive and welcoming for trans people.

What Not To Do!

Ignore the issue Stereotype trans people Shun qualitative research in favour of quantitative

studies Assume that treatment is less life threatening than other

conditions, is low priority or is clinically unimportant Bury the commissioning policy within the smoke and

mirrors of a Interventions Not Normally Funded policy Think that any form of Gender Confirmation Surgery is

cosmetic.

Questions and Discussion

"People changed lots of other personal things all the time. They dyed their hair and dieted themselves to near death. They took steroids to build muscles and got breast implants and nose jobs so they'd resemble their favorite movie stars. They changed names and majors and jobs and husbands and wives. They changed religions and political parties. They moved across the country or the world -- even changed nationalities. Why was gender the one sacred thing we weren’t supposed to change? Who made that rule?"

Ellen Wittlinger (Parrotfish)