LONDON: A groundbreaking study conducted in England reveals that transgender individuals are significantly more susceptible to experiencing long-term mental health conditions, with some encountering a risk five times greater than their cisgender counterparts. While prior research hinted at elevated rates of depression and anxiety among transgender, non-binary, and gender-diverse individuals, these findings were drawn from limited studies lacking broad applicability.
This newly released nationally representative study meticulously examines the mental health burden within the transgender community, shedding light on the unmet needs prevalent among its members. Shockingly, the risk of enduring a long-term mental health condition stands at approximately one in six for transgender men and women (16.4% and 15.9%, respectively), compared to one in ten for cisgender individuals (8.8% for men and 12% for women).
Notably, certain gender minority groups face even higher risks, with nearly half of non-binary transgender individuals (47.2%) reporting a mental health condition. Spearheaded by the University of Manchester in collaboration with the Proud Trust and LGBT Foundation, this seminal research is published in the Lancet Public Health journal.
“Trans, non-binary and gender-diverse people across England face widespread discrimination, leading to stressful social interactions and feelings of unacceptance, increasing the risk of poor mental health,” said Dr Luke Munford, a senior lecturer in health economics at Manchester and co-author of the paper.
The research, encompassing 1.5 million individuals aged 16 and above in England, featured a subgroup of 8,000 transgender participants. It drew upon information from the 2021 and 2022 iterations of the English GP patient survey, which queried patients regarding the presence of mental health disorders.
The study’s researchers acknowledged constraints within their research, such as the potential for biased estimates due to re-sampling of participants over two years and the influence of clinical language and reliance on self-reporting on reported mental health conditions. Additionally, the survey did not capture the timing of participants’ mental health conditions, leading the researchers unable to discount the possibility that these conditions existed prior to their gender identity change.
The researchers not only investigated the prevalence of mental health conditions but also examined the adequacy of mental health care during GP appointments. Individuals identifying with a gender other than cisgender male or female were found to be more likely to express unmet needs during their most recent consultation.
Among cisgender men and women, approximately one in six (15.6% and 15.9% respectively) reported unmet mental health needs, a lower proportion compared to other gender identity groups. This ranged from one in five (20%) for transgender men to one in four (28.6%) for patients who chose not to disclose their gender identity.
