SOGII is pleased to announce that Dr. Greta R. Bauer, PhD, MPH will be speaking a the 2015 CPA conference. She will present a talk on "Social Marginalization and the Mental Health of Trans People".
Recent research has documented that up to 1 in 200 adults are trans (transgender, transsexual or transitioned), broadly defined. Among trans persons, experiencing some degree of social marginalization is almost universal. Social marginalization can include exclusion from family, relationship, cultural, social or institutional contexts; experiences of transphobic violence or harassment; interpersonal acts of discrimination; “everyday discrimination” or insults; and structural barriers to full participation in society. For the approximately three-quarters of trans people who need to medically transition, it can also include barriers to accessing transition-related care. Drawing on data from the Trans PULSE Project survey (n=433) of trans people in Ontario, as well as qualitative data, the range of social marginalization experienced by trans community members will be described and quantified. Quantitative results will be presented that explore to what extent and how these factors impact depression and suicidality. Some potential strategies have been identified, and will be discussed in the context of clinical, social, and policy interventions.