CMHA Supports International Transgender Day of Visibility

On March 31, CMHA-CT celebrates International Transgender Day of Visibility, an event recognizing the resilience and accomplishments of the transgender community.

A transgender person is someone whose gender identity is different from the gender they were assigned at birth. CMHA-CT stands with our transgender community and acknowledges the discrimination and obstacles they still encounter in society. In fact, World Health Organization stopped designating “transsexualism” as a mental disorder only four years ago. Transgender people are present across all age groups, with a significant proportion being young adults who often face challenges in accessing appropriate healthcare services, including hormone therapy and gender-affirming surgeries.

Transgender people are at higher risk of experiencing discrimination, harassment, and violence compared to the general population. This includes discrimination in employment, housing, and healthcare settings. As a result, transgender individuals are more likely to experience mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, and suicidality.

According to Statistics Canada, transgender people are significantly more likely to experience poor mental health and mental illness compared to cisgender individuals. In a 2018 survey, only 34% of transgender individuals rated their mental health positively, while 65 per cent rated it as fair or poor. Nearly half had seriously contemplated suicide, and 61 per cent had been diagnosed with a mood or anxiety disorder.

For additional information on mental health services for gender-diverse individuals, please check out the following resources:

• Invisible Intersections: A Toolkit on Supporting 2SLGBTQ+ Students on Campus.

• Mental Health Services for Gender-Diverse and Sexual-Minority Youth (cmha.ca)

• Asking About Gender: Confronting Assumptions and Challenging Transphobia presentation

• Inclusive and Affirming Language Tips