Study finds high suicide rate in trans* teens

gaywrites:

A new LiveScience story examines the high rate of mental health problems in transgender kids and adolescents. 

Based partially on a 2010 study that found 41 percent of trans* people in the U.S. have attempted suicide, the article examines how having a gender identity that doesn’t match one’s body can cause serious psychiatric complications. 

Researchers attributed those rates to discrimination and stigma, as well as a lack of laws protecting transgender people from employment discrimination. Poor insurance coverage of hormones and other treatments to help a transgender person transition to their desired gender also account for the rates, the researchers found. 

But the mismatch between mind and body alone can be a major source of psychological pain, Leibowitz said. Of 97 patients who came to the Endocrine Division for hormones and other treatments related to gender identity disorder between January 1998 and February 2010, 44.3 percent had significant mental health histories. Twenty percent had self-mutilated, and 9.3 percent had attempted suicide at least once. About 37 percent were taking psychiatric medication.

These are some pretty serious numbers, but it’s something we need to know if we’re going to address it properly. So - how do we address it properly?

One thing we could do is discuss how income and racial discrimination limit folks (and especially vulnerable teens) access to resources for support and whatever physical and/or medical transition items and procedures they might want/need.

(via t-r-a-n-s)

Source: gaywrites

75 Notes/ Hide

  1. impoddity answered: First, we stop calling gender identity a disorder. The majority have a bad habit of labeling any one who does not fit into their box ‘other’.
  2. soproudlyyours reblogged this from gaywrites
  3. phoenixyouthpride reblogged this from t-r-a-n-s
  4. alexandr22 answered: we should just let em kill themselves there’s 7 billion people in the world less won’t be a bad thing.
  5. urcrookdheart answered: Keep advocating! Love is more powerful than hate.
  6. tara-wonder reblogged this from t-r-a-n-s
  7. elinkors reblogged this from t-r-a-n-s
  8. silvicultrix reblogged this from t-r-a-n-s
  9. lilianlookingglass answered: Education, education, education. It’s going to be a long-haul to get any progress, but it’s progress that needs to be made.
  10. withrevolutionarycries reblogged this from t-r-a-n-s and added:
    One thing we could do is discuss how income and racial discrimination limit folks (and especially vulnerable teens)...
  11. childisarebel reblogged this from t-r-a-n-s
  12. letsdoitlikelionfish reblogged this from dragostea and added:
    make it necessary to get the healthcare we need in order to live happy ‘normal’ lives. make it easier. make it so that...
  13. ihavetherighttodestroymyself reblogged this from persemprekamilia
  14. persemprekamilia reblogged this from t-r-a-n-s
  15. simplyalexandermason reblogged this from t-r-a-n-s
  16. dragostea reblogged this from t-r-a-n-s
  17. ojwednesdays reblogged this from t-r-a-n-s and added:
    reblogging because i actually cited this in the paper i just wrote about transphobia and homophobia that i may or may...
  18. theclandestinenook reblogged this from t-r-a-n-s
  19. t-r-a-n-s reblogged this from lgbtrc
  20. lgbtrc reblogged this from gaywrites
  21. djhirnriss answered: Sorry,no I haven´t!!! I read article `bout 3 times!I can´t answer this question!
  22. thunderwarning reblogged this from gaywrites
  23. foundbutforeverlost answered: It’s all about acceptance I live in Utah and I say I am lesbian instead of explaining being trans it kind of sucks sometimes…
  24. qbliss reblogged this from gaywrites
  25. the-great-time-war reblogged this from gaywrites
  26. caitys15 reblogged this from gaywrites
  27. boimeetsboi reblogged this from gaywrites
  28. silhouetteofagirl reblogged this from gaywrites
  29. mylittletown2100 answered: Kill all the republicans
  30. lethargicthinking reblogged this from gaywrites and added:
    Of course there’s a high suicide rate in trans teens. At all points in your life you look for acceptance, but during...
  31. skittlespride reblogged this from gaywrites
  32. askmrdwicky reblogged this from paranoidactivity and added:
    *sighs* I’m not surprised at all…
  33. paranoidactivity reblogged this from gaylienz and added:
    Ok, this isn’t surprising in the least. What do you suggest we do??
  34. gaylienz reblogged this from gaywrites