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A patient of mine, a young transgender person, sat on my office couch, playing absentmindedly with a fidget toy as they talked about their experience with suicide. Not being able to imagine a life where they could live authentically was not new, with thoughts of ending their own life beginning early in life and escalating as they grew older. The statement was made casually, pragmatically, as if they had not just expressed a heart-wrenching belief about the validity of their place in the world. Not to mention what this thought revealed about their experience of isolation and loneliness at such a young age.
As tragic as this sentiment is, it is all too common of an experience for trans people, across ages, racial identities, and backgrounds. Recent research results revealed that 40% of transgender adults in the United States have attempted suicide in their lifetime. In the past year, 1 in 5 transgender young people attempted suicide, as compared to 1 in 10 cisgender young people. Suicide is not the only mental health impact that is seen in higher rates in the trans community. Research suggests that transgender people are disproportionately burdened by anxiety and depression, as compared to cisgender people.
As a mental health provider and queer person, these statistics and the testimony of my clients are alarming. How and why are our trans community members suffering so acutely? There are several factors that contribute to trans people’s mental health struggles, but they can be broken into two main tiers of micro and macro rejection and oppression. On an individual or micro level, trans people experience familial rejection, disruption in attachment, isolation, loss of connection, internalized shame, and higher rates of physical violence or threats. On a macro level, political action that seeks to limit trans rights; lack of access to trans affirming mental and medical care; unsafe school, work, housing and social environments; and experiences of systemic discrimination all contribute to poor mental health outcomes.
The research results and gut-wrenching stories signal that change is needed on a systemic, political, and social level to ensure the joy and safety of trans people. As a clinician and member of the queer community, I am deeply encouraged by a path forward on an individual therapeutic level: queer affirming therapy.
While many mental health initiatives are trans and queer inclusive, queer affirming therapy extends beyond inclusion. Queer affirming therapy actively creates spaces that are made for queer people and are specifically attuned to the needs, challenges, and joys of LGBTQIA+ people. Queer affirming therapy is specifically equipped to target topics related to gender and sexuality, offering a critical service to trans and gender diverse patients.
Research on the experience of LGBTQIA+ people who can access queer affirming therapy is resoundingly positive, demonstrating not only a reduction in symptoms of anxiety, depression, and suicidality, but also a more positive perception of their therapeutic experience. Interestingly, clinicians who attended queer affirming therapy trainings also saw a positive benefit, reporting reduced internal biases, microaggression, and improved treatment outcomes.
At Atrius Health, the Pride+ Care Program is proud to serve all LGBTQIA+ individuals with a variety of mental and physical health services. LGBTQIA+ people of all identities may struggle with mental health challenges and deserve comprehensive and compassionate care that is easily accessible.
To serve our trans community patients, the Pride+ Care program is thrilled to offer gender affirming surgical assessments, short term individual therapy, care facilitation, and the inaugural debut of a trans-identified therapeutic support group.
Each session of the trans-identified therapeutic support group will focus on a topic that uniquely impacts trans people. The goal of the support groups is to:
- Create a sense of community and share experiences with others;
- Improve coping skills to manage gender dysphoria, distress, and difficult relationships; and
- Learn tools to improve one’s relationship to self and identity.
Small but mighty efforts like these are incredibly important so that patients, like the young transgender person who sat on my office couch, know that there is not just a path forward, but a bright and vibrant future ahead.
Interested in learning more or joining the group?
Please call us today!
