According to a recent US-wide investigation, an alarming amount of trans people aged 50 or older have experienced suicidal thinking.
More than 25 % ( 25.8 % ) of trans adults in the US who are 50 years of age or older have seriously considered ending their lives, according to a study by California State University- Long Beach that was written up for the peer-reviewed journal Aging and Mental Health.
This is a startling increase from the estimated 4.7 % of people in the US who have thought about killing themselves.
According to the study, this substantial increase in suicidality among transgender adults is caused by a variety of difficulties in different facets of their lives. It also demonstrates the urgent need for qualified support and interventions to lower this population’s risk of suicide.
Our analysis has exposed the distressing fact faced by several older transgender adults who are grappling with suicidal thoughts due to the cumulative effect of numerous negative factors on their lives, co-author Dr. Thomas Alex Washington said in a comment on the research, which was published immediately to commemorate Trans-Gender Day of Remembrance, an annual compliance honoring the recollection of transgendered people whose lives were lost because of acts of anti-gay violence.
Workplace problems, interactions with experts, use of public services, personal security, and economic disadvantages were all examined as part of the review.
Researchers discovered that the likelihood of older trans people considering death was considerably higher in all five areas.
For those who encountered difficulties in any of the five areas examined, the risk of suicidal ideation among trans adults specifically increased by 96 % to 11 %.
When they happen together and have a negative effect on one another, the different difficulties that older transgender people face can increase the risk of suicidal ideation even more.
Most worryingly, contact to all five difficulties increased the risk by 861 percent.
According to co-author Dr. Hugh Klein, the majority of older trans people” face persistent challenges in different regions of their life,” according to the study.
The risk of suicidal thinking is increased by the syndemic interactions between these issues.
But, Dr. Klein pointed out that as older transgender adults get older, their risk of suicidal thinking does increases.
” Encouragingly,” he said,” we find that among the older people who took part in this significant federal study, the risk of considering suicide tends to decline with age. This may be because transgender people’s mental health is positively impacted by increased resilience, adaptive techniques, changing life situations, and individual growth.”
The percentage drops to 12 % for trans adults aged 70 and older, compared to the 25.8 % of trans people aged 50 or older who report considering suicide.
As so-called” culture wars” and anti-trans rhetoric permeate the political climate in the US, this study does not accurately reflect the current sentiments of older transgender people there because it was based on data from the 2015 US National Transgen Survey.
Right-wing politicians created more than 500 anti-LGBT+ charges in 2023 only, ranging from restrictions on transgender people’s access to public restrooms and changing areas to limits on how they participate in sports.
Even though not all of these charges were passed, the flow of transphobia-fueled bills and amendments has fueled the anti-trans fire that is already raging in the US, endangering an now precarious minority group.
Suicide can be avoided. Samaritans are encouraged to contact readers in the UK who are affected by the issues brought up in this story at 116 123 ( www ). the Samaritan. Mind on 0300 123 3393 ( www.org ) or Keep in mind. com. uk ). It is advised that readers in the US call the National Suicide Prevention Line at 1 800 273 8255.
How did you feel after reading this story?
sending a response
I appreciate your comments!