2. 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
3. Quality of Life
1
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.
Count Me In Too Trans People Report –
Browne & Lim – Dec 2008
1
4. The NHS Experience
1
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.
Count Me In Too Trans People Report –
Browne & Lim – Dec 2008
1
5. Mental Health
1
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.
Count Me In Too Trans People Report –
Browne & Lim – Dec 2008
1
6. Sexual Health
1
Trans people are more likely (56%) than nontrans people (37%) to not know where to find
help around sex and relationships
Trans people are more likely (38%) than nontrans people (24%) to say they have never had a
sexual health check up.
Count Me In Too Trans People Report –
Browne & Lim – Dec 2008
1
7. What Trans People Want
1
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.
Count Me In Too Trans People Report –
Browne & Lim – Dec 2008
1
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. 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)
