A recent 2010 TransPulse survey of 433 trans people in Ontario aged 16 and older found extremely high rates of suicidal ideation and attempt.
Many trans people will seek medical assistance in order bring their physical appearance in line with their gender identity. This could include hormone therapy and/or transition-related surgery.
Researchers have identified that completing a medical transition for those who need it could substantially increase a person’s well-being. Most at risk for considering/attempting suicide were people who were planning but had not begun a medical transition.
* In this study completed transition was based on participant self-report and may involve any combination of hormones or surgery/surgeries
Suicidal ideation and attempt rates of trans people at different stages of medical transition:
It remains a frequent challenge for trans people to access health care services for general and transition-related services.
Many have had negative experiences including discomfort, denial and discrimination. Click the plus button to view examples.
were not comfortable discussing trans issues with their doctor.
~50%
perceived their physician to be not at all knowledgable about trans health issues.
~30-40%
have been denied hormone prescriptions.
~20%
avoided emergency room care because they perceived their trans status would negatively affect the encounter.
~21%
~11%
obtained hormones from nonmedical sources.
Facilitating access to competent primary care could substantially reduce suicidal distress. A TransPULSE study of 380 trans people in Ontario revealed that among individuals who desired medical transition, those on hormone therapy were about half as likely to have suicidal thoughts.