Have you ever lied to someone? What about to yourself? Have you ever pretended to be someone you are not? Is it easier to hide even when you know you're not happy? Or is it easier to go out even if it's messy? Imagine that you are already experiencing these all.
Mental health can be an ignored part of being healthy. But it is one of the most important parts. It drives much of our day-to-day life. Having a bad mental health day can impact a lot, including making it harder to get things done. It can be as simple as not running an errand. Or it can be more impactful, like not showing up for work.
The lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning (LGBTQ) community face these challenges just like everyone else. They often experience even more hurdles to caring for their mental health. This is usually related to bias or discrimination that exist today.
LGBTQ individuals are more likely to experience a mental illness such as depression or anxiety and the stigma that surrounds mental illnesses can prevent people from seeking help. So why are mental health challenges more common among trans individuals?
“Transgender” means your gender identity does not fit the physical sex with which you were born. “Gender identity” refers to a person’s internal sense of being male, female or something else; “gender expression” refers to the way a person communicates gender identity to others through behavior, clothing, hairstyles, voice or body characteristics. “Trans” is sometimes used as shorthand for “transgender.” While transgender is generally a good term to use, not everyone whose appearance or behavior is gender-nonconforming will identify as a transgender person. The ways that transgender people are talked about in popular culture is constantly changing, particularly as individuals’ awareness, knowledge and openness about transgender people and their experiences grow.
When a person decides to transition, it’s obvious. Unfortunately, not everyone is understanding. The individual may be bullied and not accepted by their loved ones as they transition, even after transitioning. They may face medical insurance issues, too. The anticipation of these barriers might even cause someone to believe that they have no realistic path to transition.
There is a high level of emotional pain that can come with transitioning. And there is a high level of emotional pain that can come with continuing to live with gender dysphoria. This pain (just like the pain that comes from living with any chronic disease) is what can lead to depression and anxiety. It is these mental illnesses that can make a person feel like they have no way out and have thoughts of ending their life.
As a transgender woman, it is important to know you can help us. It is simply knowing what to say or not to say is a very common and simple act of concern. If you accidentally use the wrong pronoun, apologize. But don’t dwell. Keep in mind that being transgender is not our entire identity. Really, just treat us like any other friend. Ask us the questions that you would ask anyone else, like, “How are you doing?” Or if they are in distress, ask, “How can I help?” You don't have to know everything we went through in life. In the same way, don’t ask about our transition surgery.
Be very supportive. Help LGBT members get into seeing a mental health professional – especially someone who is confident in helping gender identity issues. These services include mental health providers who specialize in LGBTQ help. But they also cover the wide range of what someone might need.
Above all, every gay, lesbian, and transgender person who has been lucky enough to survive the turmoil of growing up is indeed a survivor. Survivors always have an obligation to those who will face the same challenges.
“To all LGBTQIA+ members, always believe that “What makes us different, makes us beautiful”
~Jade Asuncion