RE: Why are transgender people more likely to commit suicide?
July 22, 2020 at 5:59 pm
(This post was last modified: July 22, 2020 at 6:24 pm by John 6IX Breezy.)
Two disclaimers: There was a lot of statistical information to digest so I only got the gist of the article. And I only read a few of the comments here. If I misread something in the article I'll correct it when I'm home.
The proper way to test whether or not discrimination leads to higher suicide rates in the trans community, would be to compare them to another community that faces equal discrimination. Presumably the non-trans members of the LGBT community. Comparing them to the general population is uninformative.
The article listed many ways in which discrimination and lack of support leads to suicide ideation, etc., within the community. However, one bit of data that doesn't quiet fit for me is that these rates go down for those that underwent hormone therapy or surgery. And back up for those that transitioned back to their original sex.
This is perhaps the only bit of data that makes me wonder if there is something unique about transgenders that other discriminated groups do not face. I base this on the assumption that transsexuals face more discrimination than other transgenders. Given that it is typically the appearance of being transexual that draws the most attention. Yet their rates go down after transitioning.
My theory would be that the transgender community faces higher suicide rates than other groups, because of the dysphoria they often experience. The feeling that you don't belong in your own body and are trapped in the wrong sex is bound to lead to depression and suicidal thoughts even in a world without discrimination.
The proper way to test whether or not discrimination leads to higher suicide rates in the trans community, would be to compare them to another community that faces equal discrimination. Presumably the non-trans members of the LGBT community. Comparing them to the general population is uninformative.
The article listed many ways in which discrimination and lack of support leads to suicide ideation, etc., within the community. However, one bit of data that doesn't quiet fit for me is that these rates go down for those that underwent hormone therapy or surgery. And back up for those that transitioned back to their original sex.
This is perhaps the only bit of data that makes me wonder if there is something unique about transgenders that other discriminated groups do not face. I base this on the assumption that transsexuals face more discrimination than other transgenders. Given that it is typically the appearance of being transexual that draws the most attention. Yet their rates go down after transitioning.
My theory would be that the transgender community faces higher suicide rates than other groups, because of the dysphoria they often experience. The feeling that you don't belong in your own body and are trapped in the wrong sex is bound to lead to depression and suicidal thoughts even in a world without discrimination.
