Mental Health in the Trans Community

First, the bad news: 

Transgender youth are more likely to be depressed than their cisgender counterparts. One in five transgender youth attempt suicide in their lifetimes, and 60 percent of all LGBTQ youth reported being so depressed that they stopped engaging in their usual hobbies and activities. In addition, 40 percent of transgender adults described being in psychological distress, 5 percent higher than the average U.S. population who said the same.

And now, the good news: There is hope for the mental health and resiliency of trans people. There is a way to overcome distress and trauma. Sable Shultz, director of transgender services at the Center on Colfax, provided insight and advice on how to prevail through challenges which the trans community faces daily. 

“My number-one advice is to find other transgender people to connect with. Peer support groups are excellent spaces to find community and acceptance for many transgender people. My second piece of advice is that no one who does not accept you is worth keeping in your life. Whatever role they fulfill now, there is someone out there who can do it better and will accept you for you. Believe you are worth it, and you will draw to you others who will as well. And if it is hard to believe in yourself right now, then faking it until you make it is a valid option.” 

Shultz is right.  

Many studies have pointed to the benefits of peer support in particular, and how involvement in trans-centered community organizations has been beneficial to overall psychological well-being.

“The Center on Colfax offers peer-led support groups and has referral lists for counselors and therapists. Rainbow Alley works with Mile High Behavioral Health to provide youth (ages 11 to 21) access to counseling and support,” Shultz says. She added that, in addition to reaching out for peer support and to behavioral health services, “Blocking or snoozing social media profiles or pages” can also be a good self-care technique for trans people. “Finding three things, no matter how small or superficial, to be grateful for” can also help.

In addition to The Center’s support services, there are many others available in Colorado. The Transgender Center of the Rockies provides support groups as well as access to behavioral health providers. The Gathering Place provides drop-in services for all women, transgender, and nonbinary folks experiencing poverty and houselessness and the Denver Health LGBTQ Health Services provides physical and behavioral healthcare to LGBTQ community members. Despite the dire statistics within the trans community, hope can still be found and cultivated