MENTAL HEALTH AND TRANSGENDER IDENTITY: EXPLORING THE MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES FACED BY TRANSGENDER INDIVIDUALS, INCLUDING HIGHER RATES OF ANXIETY, DEPRESSION, AND SUICIDE, AND THE IMPACT OF GENDER DYSPHORIA ON OVERALL WELL-BEING

Abstract

This paper aims at identifying the mental health issues affecting the Transgender community in Pakistan, with special focus on gender dysphoria effects on anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts. Based on a quantitative research approach, cross-sectional survey data was gathered using structured questionnaires from transgender respondents of different geographical areas. The research has revealed that transgender people are two to four times more likely to have poor mental health and twice as likely to have suicidal thoughts compared to other citizens. In addition, the results showed that gender dysphoria was an independent predictor of these mental health outcomes, thus supporting the role of the psychological effects of gender incongruence. The actions suggested by the study for the advancement of the rights of the transgender persons include enhancement of social acceptance, expansion of mental health service utilization, and enhancement of protective laws. This means in Pakistani context of fear of stigma, shameful thoughts and feelings of fatality, more target population needs to be addressed with regards to their mental health.