Suicide prevention and the Transgender cause.

In 1993 a study was done at the University of Sydney into suicide and its causes in amongst the L.G.B.T.I. community at large and it was found that at that stage the Transgender community suicide rates were as high as 43%, an unacceptable figure in any ones standards. Since then, thankfully the percentage rates have dropped to 6%, due solely to a burgeoning support base during the 1990’s. Infrastructure in the form of information services and support groups were born to supply those in need with the appropriate help and resources required. One of those community support groups is ATSAQ (Australian Transgender support Association of Queensland inc.atsaq.com, 07 38435024.), run by Gina Mather and Krissy Johnson in Queensland and the formation of the Brisbane Gender Clinic, which opened its doors on the 7/12/1994 to supply quality health care for those identifying as Transgender and intersex. (Appointments-Wed 1.30pm-5pm 3837 5645, 3837 5611 all other times)

After many years being excluded from anti discrimination law reform, the Transgender community were finally recognized and gender identity was included to the anti discrimination act on March 31st 2003. Though these factors have minimized suicide rates significantly, more needs to be done to reduce those figures to zero. One death is one too many in my opinion and everything must be done to reach this goal of Transgender survival facilitated through education and support for those in need. Recently the LGBT youth service, Open Doors received a $100.000 grant from the Queensland Government to run a program aimed at reducing the exceptionally high youth suicide rates amongst LGBT youth in Queensland. This funding began in mid August and will focus on the regional areas of Queensland and will work towards supporting those feeling alienated and ostracized by the difficulties of coming to terms with their identities in less tolerant parts of Queensland. This is a great step forward in preventing these unnecessary losses to our community and will help to create a future of limited suicide cases amongst the LGBT populace, experiencing hopelessness in the face of continuing ignorance and intolerance amongst the wider community.

I have been Transgender for 19yrs now and have experienced the mental and emotional pit falls of this condition and know fully the lows one can experience while living this gender disphoric life. After my own two suicide attempts, it is clear to me that looking and sounding feminine is no savior to a life that sometimes can only be described as an inner journey of lonely singularity. Luckily for me my support base in the form of family, friends and the Transgender community support infrastructure, has saved me from becoming another statistic. More needs to be done for those still left wanting and in need of the basic human requirements of inclusion and respect. There is so much hope for the future, thanks mainly to the many giving and selfless service providers willing to fight for a future that embraces diversity, which ultimately will reduce the numbers of Transgender people seeing suicide as the only escape from a world they feel alienated and abandoned from.

Written By Robyn Whittaker © 2008.
(Reference information thanks to ATSAQ and Open Doors.)