Various health-related disparities such as higher rates of disability, multiple chronic diseases, mental illness, and substance use disorders affect transgender individuals disproportionately, compared to their effects on cisgender individuals. Despite the high prevalence of these issues, significant barriers that block transgender patients’ access to competent, compassionate health care include gender-based stigma and discrimination.
Recent studies have shed light on mental health concerns in transgender youth specifically, with findings indicating a 2- to 3-fold increase in depression and suicidality in this population. Other results demonstrated that more than 75% of transgender and gender nonbinary youth experienced symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder.
Unfortunately, mental illness is more common in transgender youth compared to their cisgender peers. Because of the stress and discrimination that trans youth face, they are at increased risk for depression, anxiety, and suicidality. Studies show that up to 50% of trans youth will contemplate suicide, with risk being higher if youth are rejected by their families.
Read more at PsychiatryAdvisor.com.
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