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CMHA Ottawa supports the International Transgender Day of Visibility
Mar 26, 2024
On March 31, CMHA Ottawa celebrates the International Transgender Day of Visibility, an event recognizing the resilience and accomplishments of the transgender community.
A transgender person is someone whose gender identity is different from the gender they were assigned at birth. CMHA Ottawa stands with our local transgender community and acknowledges the discrimination and obstacles they still encounter in society.
In fact, the World Health Organization stopped designating “transsexualism” as a mental disorder only four years ago. Transgender people are present across all age groups, with a significant proportion being young adults who often face challenges in accessing appropriate healthcare services, including hormone therapy and gender-affirming surgeries.
Transgender people are at higher risk of experiencing discrimination, harassment, and violence compared to the general population. This includes discrimination in employment, housing, and healthcare settings. As a result, transgender individuals are more likely to experience mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, and suicidality.
According to Statistics Canada, transgender people are significantly more likely to experience poor mental health and mental illness compared to cisgender individuals. In a 2018 survey, only 34 per cent of transgender individuals rated their mental health positively, while 65 per cent rated it as ‘fair’ or ‘poor.’ Nearly half had seriously contemplated suicide, and 61 per cent had been diagnosed with a mood or anxiety disorder.
For additional information on mental health services for gender-diverse individuals, please check out the following resources: