Non-Binary transgender persons, ie persons who do not define themselves as one of the gender categories of male or female, feel worse than other transgender people in this study.
Non-Binary experiences to a large extent that it is impossible to live according to their gender identity and that people do not feel wrong in any situation.
RFSL (Swedish Federation for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Rights) last week released a report with the Swedish results of the Transgender Europe‘s survey study, with 472 Swedish transgender responding to questions about their health and their experiences in health care.
The study suggests that transgender people in general are worse than the general population and that non-binary transgender are worst compared to transgender with other gender identities. 85% of the non-binary tells you to be wronged almost and that only 3.5% feel that they can fully live according to their gender identity. The results show that both misleading and unable to live according to their gender identity correlate with poorer health.
That non-binary people feel so much worse than other transgender people in the study was something of a surprise to us. But it’s no wonder you’re feeling bad if you’re completely invisible in society, feeling bad in your care and experiencing that your gender identity is constantly questioned, “says Carolina Orre of RFSL who has written the report.
23% of respondents report that they have felt discriminated against in health care over the past year due to their transgender identity. 62% say it has been postponed to seek care because of fear of bad treatment.
It is obvious that major improvements are needed, for the health of all transgender people and for non-stop health in particular, “said Emelie Mire Åsell, transgender spokesperson for RFSL. Sweden needs to introduce a gender-neutral legal gender in order for non-binary to be recognised before the law, and knowledge of health and the public about non-binary sexual identities needs to be strengthened dramatically, Åsell continues.
As many as 9.7% of all respondents said they tried to take their lives last year, and 54% report that they have had serious concerns over taking their own lives over the past year.
It is so important that child and adolescent psychiatry and other psychiatry get acquainted with the living conditions of transgender people. You should not worry about bad treatment when you seek help for life-threatening conditions such as suicide attempts, “says Emelie Mire Åsell.
Read the report (in Swedish).
Photo by RFSL
