One of the things that comes up the most is people who aren't familiar with trans people in their daily lives, who see them only in clinics and hospitals, get a false impression that trans people are mentally ill that they are much more likely to be depressed anxious than other people. It's very clear that the structures that trans people live within can be very determinant of their outcomes.Įrickson-Schroth: Laura and I spend a lot of time talking with other doctors therapists about trans health. Trans youth who grow up in environments of stigma, shame, non-acceptance, where they're not being called the appropriate name, where their genders are not being recognized-those are the ones who have high rates of depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation. Trans youth in environments where they are getting emotional support from their parents, schools, peers have no higher rates of depression, anxiety, or suicide than their cisgender peers. Jacobs: Research is starting to show that trans people who exist within systems, structures, environments where they are getting support do far better. This is happening to whole groups of people, because the world is full of systems of oppression. Understanding this is not just happening to me, because I'm somehow different or strange.
The other thing that we don't talk about a lot is understanding systems of oppression. We want to connect people to other trans people when they're first coming out. The things that we know that promote resilience: family support social support community support. What's more essential to who you are than your name?Įrickson-Schroth: Some of the newest research in LGBTQ health is about resilience. Teaching them to speak up for themselves about their name or pronoun is helping them be empowered as people.
Jacobs: This isn't just about pronouns or names. Sometimes others are not going to come along. People can do that in their own life in all sorts of other ways. That way, you don't get misgendered throughout the building. Every time you go to any of the reception desks, there are stickers right there on the counter-you can write in your pronouns. I've even had people take an empty coffee can, cut in the top, and every time you misgender me, you put in a quarter. There are all sorts of things that I've suggested to people, like not responding.
Sometimes parents are pretty supportive early on, but they struggle or have their own beliefs that make it hard to accept. They might take their time, so they might continue to use the person's birth name or assigned gender. Often, parents are well-meaning, but struggling with their own issues or their own questions. I see this play out as a therapist when parents are having more trouble coming onboard.
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