Recent research is helping us begin to understand the complexities of transgender #mentalhealth. A number of these studies have demonstrated that this particular population tends to be at increased risk of poorer mental health in the form of increased rates of substance use, and disorders like depression.
The article below in particular, looks at two new studies, one of transgender children and the other of transgender women in their late adolescence and early adulthood to begin to help us explore the question of whether transgendered individuals' mental health is related more to external factors such as discrimination and support and validation (or lack thereof) from family/society, or more closely linked to internal factors such as gender dysphoria.
"Only a quarter of the women were white, and all were between ages 16 and 29. The researchers, led by Sari Reisner, a research fellow at Harvard Medical School and Boston Children's Hospital, found that the rate of psychiatric disorders and substance dependence among these women was 1.7 to 3.6 times greater than in the general population.
Four in 10 of the women had a mental health or substance dependence disorder, and 1 in 5 women had at least two diagnosed psychiatric conditions. More than a third of them had experienced depression, and 1 in 5 women had contemplated suicide in the past month. Rates of anxiety, post-traumatic stress, alcohol dependence and other substance dependence also was higher than average."
For the full story, click here: http://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2016/03/23/471265599/probing-the-complexities-of-transgender-mental-health
The article below in particular, looks at two new studies, one of transgender children and the other of transgender women in their late adolescence and early adulthood to begin to help us explore the question of whether transgendered individuals' mental health is related more to external factors such as discrimination and support and validation (or lack thereof) from family/society, or more closely linked to internal factors such as gender dysphoria.
"Only a quarter of the women were white, and all were between ages 16 and 29. The researchers, led by Sari Reisner, a research fellow at Harvard Medical School and Boston Children's Hospital, found that the rate of psychiatric disorders and substance dependence among these women was 1.7 to 3.6 times greater than in the general population.
Four in 10 of the women had a mental health or substance dependence disorder, and 1 in 5 women had at least two diagnosed psychiatric conditions. More than a third of them had experienced depression, and 1 in 5 women had contemplated suicide in the past month. Rates of anxiety, post-traumatic stress, alcohol dependence and other substance dependence also was higher than average."
For the full story, click here: http://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2016/03/23/471265599/probing-the-complexities-of-transgender-mental-health
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