The Strain on Mental Health Amongst Transgender Individuals

World Mental Health Day is celebrated each year on October 10th to spread knowledge and enhance recognition of mental health globally. While acknowledging mental health is indeed a transformative initiative, we often overlook a group that faces acute mental health issues, many of which emerge from societal actions. I am referring to the Transgender community, which includes individuals assigned male at birth who now identify as female and those assigned female at birth who now identify as male.

Transgender people are extremely prone to mental health challenges, namely anxiety and depression. This is attributable to the stigma surrounding them and ostracism against them. What worsens the situation is their limited access to healthcare due to exclusion in healthcare settings. Moreover, workplace discrimination leads to financial challenges since it makes finding jobs harder. All of this renders the diagnosis and prescription of mental health problems difficult to obtain.

In fact, this issue is so vital to address that it has been termed as 'Gender Dysphoria,' i.e., the psychological distress experienced caused by a discrepancy between one's gender identity and the biological sex assigned at birth. A devastating consequence of gender dysphoria is suicidality; a 2023 study suggests that 42% of transgender individuals in the USA have attempted suicide, and over three-quarters have considered it. These staggering numbers highlight the pressing need to combat marginalization.

However, there are multiple ways of tackling these mental health concerns, including:

·       Joining advocacy groups

·       Connecting with other transgender communities

·       Joining NGOs that provide skill development or job opportunities

·       Seeking therapy and mental health support

·       Reaching out to national hotlines

Ultimately, resolving these struggles is a crucial step for fostering a more inclusive and supportive society, ensuring that transgender individuals get equal access to healthcare, job opportunities, and the respect they deserve, just as anyone else would.