Youth survey shows transgender and gender diverse students struggle with significant mental health challenges
More than 50 per cent of transgender and gender diverse students have struggled with mental health in the past year, research shows.
The research comes from the Youth19 survey co-led by Associate Professor Terry Fleming in the School of Health alongside Associate Professor Terryann Clark and Senior Lecturer John Fenaughty from the University of Auckland. They found a greater proportion of transgender and gender diverse students report challenges at home, school, and in community and healthcare settings than their cisgender peers.
A total of 7721 youth from 49 secondary schools in Auckland, Northland, and Waikato, as well as students at kura kaupapa Māori, were anonymously surveyed.
More than half of the transgender and diverse gender respondents reported significant depressive symptoms, self-harm, and being unable to access the healthcare they needed, and just over a quarter reported they had attempted suicide in the past year. Bullying was also a common challenge, with 23 per cent saying they were bullied more than weekly in the past year. Despite this, this group was more likely to give back to others and participate in activities to benefit their community, than their cisgender peers.
Dr Fleming says the findings indicate urgent needs to end bully and exclusion of trans and gender diverse young people. “It is appalling that gender diverse young people are often unsafe in schools, communities and services. We all need to take responsibility for being inclusive and for addressing bullying and discrimination.”
Recommendations from the report involve schools and health care providers following guidelines for safer schools and quality health care. These include basics such as preventing bullying and discrimination; using correct pronouns; offering inclusive uniforms and bathrooms, and promoting visibility and inclusion.
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Survey reports and factsheets can be accessed here: https://bit.ly/2ROZ1Yh