Mental Health Challenges in the Transgender Community: A Report

This report provides an evaluation of an article focusing on transgender mental health, highlighting the significant mental health challenges faced by the transgender and gender non-conforming (TGNC) population due to discrimination and societal stigmas. The report discusses the strengths and weaknesses of the article, emphasizing the impact of social discrimination and the lack of empirical evidence on anxiety and suicide rates. It further explores nursing concepts in transgender mental health management, including interventions to address anxiety, mood disorders, and depression, and emphasizes gender-affirming care to respect the privacy and desires of TGNC patients. The report also mentions the importance of therapeutic communication approaches and the US Department of Health and Human Services' Transgender health curriculum integration project to train nursing students effectively. The references include various studies on stigma, mental health, and resilience within the transgender population.

Running head: TRANSGENDER MENTAL HEALTH
Transgender mental health
Name of the student
University name
Author’s note

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TRANSGENDER MENTAL HEALTH
Table of Contents
Summary of the article...............................................................................................................2
Strengths and weaknesses of the article.....................................................................................2
Nursing concept in transgender mental health management......................................................3
Application of the concept to nursing........................................................................................3
References..................................................................................................................................4

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TRANSGENDER MENTAL HEALTH
Article reviewed: Carmel, T. C., & Erickson-Schroth, L. (2016). Mental health and the
transgender population. Psychiatric Annals, 46(6), 346-349.
Summary of the article
In the current assignment we have evaluated an article which focuses upon
TRANSGENDER MENTAL HEALTH. The concerns of the transgender are of immense
importance as they are subjected greater levels of discrimination worldwide. It has been seen
that the transgender and gender non-conforming population experience negative mental
health outcomes compared to their heterosexual peers (Bockting, Miner, Swinburne Romine,
Hamilton & Coleman, 2015). It has been further confirmed with the help of the minority
stress model that focuses upon the myths possessed by the society regarding the Lesbian,
Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community which often results in social stigmas
(Carmel & Erickson-Schroth, 2016). The compounding stress results in adverse outcomes in
the form of negative mental health which have been discussed further.
Strengths and weaknesses of the article
The article could be further evaluated on the basis of strengths and weaknesses. The
article has duly highlighted all the relevant social discriminations that the transgender
community is exposed to. It takes into consideration all the different mental health issues
which are seen to affect the TGNC community considerably. As commented by Fredriksen-
Goldsen et al. (2013), such strong discrimination often forces the TGNC community to get
exposed to lethal propensities such as DRUGS. The articles also deals with the angle of
anxiety developed within the TGNC community well. However, little has been discussed
regarding the policies and the legal frameworks which aim at enhancing the social inclusion
of the TGNC community. Additionally, the article lacks sufficient empirical evidence
regarding the high rates of anxiety occurrence within the TGNC community. The articles also

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fails to report the severity of the suicide attempts within the TGNC youth, based upon which
the treatment plan needs to be decided.
Nursing concept in transgender mental health management
The TGNC community suffers from negative mental health such as high levels of
anxiety, mood disorders and depression. As commented by Simons, Schrager, Clark, Belzer
& Olson (2013), the negative social image often leads to them developing a low self esteem.
The social discrimination and low inclusion have resulted in the TGNC community indulge
in self harm (Bockting et al., 2013). Therefore, nursing interventions can help in coping up
with the stress within the community. The rate of suicide attempts within the TGNC
community rose from 25% to 76% (Carmel & Erickson-Schroth, 2016). The risk factors for
suicide within the transgender community have been related to co-morbid depression,
substance abuse, inadequate social support etc. For provision of effective treatment to the
TGNC community we the US Department of Health and human services have proposed the
Transgender health curriculum integration project, where the expertise of a graduate student
in transgender health and the expertise of a faculty member in nursing education was used to
train nursing students effectively who would provide gender affirming care to the transgender
patients.
Application of the concept to nursing
The TGNC community often suffer from a dysphoria that arises due to the
incongruence felt due to the assigned sex at birth and their gender identity (Carmel &
Erickson-Schroth, 2016). Hence, a gender affirming care would help the nurses respect the
privacy and desires of the TGNC patients while rendering the support and care services. As
commented by Simons et al. (2013), the inclusion of therapeutic communication approaches

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can make the care and support services more patient-centred. This can further help in coping
up with the challenging behaviour projected by the TGNC patients admitted in hospitals.

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References
Bockting, W. O., Miner, M. H., Swinburne Romine, R. E., Hamilton, A., & Coleman, E.
(2013). Stigma, mental health, and resilience in an online sample of the US
transgender population. American journal of public health, 103(5), 943-951.
Carmel, T. C., & Erickson-Schroth, L. (2016). Mental health and the transgender
population. Psychiatric Annals, 46(6), 346-349.
Fredriksen-Goldsen, K. I., Cook-Daniels, L., Kim, H. J., Erosheva, E. A., Emlet, C. A., Hoy-
Ellis, C. P., ... & Muraco, A. (2013). Physical and mental health of transgender older
adults: An at-risk and underserved population. The Gerontologist, 54(3), 488-500.
Reisner, S. L., Vetters, R., Leclerc, M., Zaslow, S., Wolfrum, S., Shumer, D., & Mimiaga, M.
J. (2015). Mental health of transgender youth in care at an adolescent urban
community health center: a matched retrospective cohort study. Journal of Adolescent
Health, 56(3), 274-279.
Simons, L., Schrager, S. M., Clark, L. F., Belzer, M., & Olson, J. (2013). Parental support
and mental health among transgender adolescents. Journal of Adolescent
Health, 53(6), 791-793.