Trans Life, America’s first transgender helpline, is here to help Transgender people with any issues they have.
According to the US National Library of medicine and health, in America alone, forty-one percent of transgender persons in the United States attempt suicide at least once in their life. In San Francisco, there are 50% of young people alone.
Bullying, history of forced sex, gender-based discrimination, and victimization and isolation are the other reasons for suicide among this population.
Stigma, rejection, systemized discrimination, lack of support from family and friends, ill-treatment from law enforcement and the health care system has resulted in making the search for help a difficult one.
As well to mental health and suicidal issues, members of the transgender community also suffer from the issue of homelessness as well. Whilst there is very little written about the issue of homelessness within this community, it is clear that the main basis for it is due to gender orientation and the stigma behind it according to In Focus.
It is clear that persistent societal, economic, cultural, and institutional discrimination and stigmatization, contribute to a disproportionate risk of housing instability and inequities in health for this population. Challenges in identifying unstably housed transgender individuals, pathways into homelessness, prevalent health issues.
In a National Transgender Discrimination Survey (NTDS) of 6,450 transgender and gender non-conforming adults, 19% of participants became homeless due to family rejection and discrimination. This is 2.5 times the rate of the general population.
As we can see, the transgender community are facing horrifying odds in reality, and they are unable to receive the help they may need to access and that they have a right to access.
However, there is hope now, with America’s first Transgender helpline: Trans Life.
Trans life is a non-profit organisation, that offers help for the well being of trans people. A hotline by transgender people for transgender people as written on their website.
The hotline is prepared to offer any kind of support, issues with gender identity and mental health issues.
The website also states that “If you are not sure whether you should call or not, then please call us.”
Check out the website here if you or anyone you know needs any more information.
Also if you or anyone else you know may need support then call: 877-565-8860 (U.S) or 877-330-6366 (Canada).
Germany has finally recognised a third gender and is the first European Country to do so. Check it out.
