A groundbreaking study has highlighted the severe impact of transphobia on the mental health of transgender and non-binary individuals worldwide.
The report, titled State of Trans+ Mental Health 2024, surveyed over 2,000 participants from 75 countries, revealing that 68 per cent of respondents had been diagnosed with a mental health condition. Alarmingly, one in six reported struggles with depression and anxiety, while over half (51 per cent) described their mental health as “poor or very poor.”
Key challenges identified by respondents included a lack of social acceptance (cited by more than 80 per cent), gender dysphoria (79.8 per cent), fear of discrimination (70.7 per cent), and family rejection (59.9 per cent).
The study, conducted by the LGBTQ+ mental wellness platform Voda, also exposed barriers to healthcare access. Only 14.7 per cent of participants reported positive experiences when seeking medical care, while 40.7 per cent found accessing healthcare difficult.
A pressing issue highlighted in the report was the need for mental health services tailored specifically for trans+ individuals. Nearly 84 per cent of respondents expressed a preference for therapists and mental health professionals who are transgender or non-binary themselves.
Jaron Soh, Voda’s co-founder and CEO, described the findings as a “call to action” to bridge the gaps in mental health support for trans+ people. “We need to work toward creating inclusive, affirming services that address their needs,” Soh stated.
Chris Sheridan, Voda’s lead psychotherapist, echoed these sentiments, emphasising that systemic transphobia remains a core issue. “The report underscores the urgent need to improve affirming healthcare, advocate for inclusive policies, and promote comprehensive education to dismantle prejudice and build supportive environments for trans+ individuals to thrive,” Sheridan said.
The report also sheds light on the global challenges faced by trans and non-binary individuals. Currently, 94 countries prohibit legal gender changes, and 172 fail to recognise non-binary genders. Meanwhile, 20 nations ban gender-affirming care outright, according to the Equaldex community equality index.
