Nearly half of all young transgender people under the age of 26 attempt suicide – with 30% saying they have had suicidal thoughts in the last year, a new study has revealed.
The figure (48%) is in stark contrast to the 6% of all 16-24-year-olds who have attempted suicide. It was also found that two thirds (59%) of transgender youths self-harm.
The study was published today to coincide with Transgender Day of Remembrance by PACE, the LGBT mental health charity.
Kathy McGuirk, the GP Project Manager for Lesbian and Gay Foundation, told MM: “A higher percentage of our younger service users are identifying not within the binary and identifying as trans.
“There is a lot of work to be done in schools. There is still a huge amount of young people using offensive language and not recognising how problematic that is.
“However there are pockets of best practice and this best practice needs to be shared.”
Greater Manchester Police and Crime Commissioner Tony Lloyd sent a message of support to Greater Manchester transgender community on International Transgender Day of Remembrance.
He said: “Nobody should have to face the prospect of hatred, murder or violence simply for being who they are. This is a brutal wrong that has no place in our society.
“Trans hate crime is still massively underreported and I urge the trans community to please report any such incidents to the police or via a third-party hate crime reporting centre. Through zero tolerance of hatred and ignorance, we can start to change attitudes and behaviors for the better.”
Mr Lloyd went on to urge for ‘tolerance, peace and equality for all.’
The study was done in partnership with Brunel University, University of Worcester and London South Bank University and was funded by the National Lottery.
If you want to report a hate crime Greater Manchester Police can be contacted on 101 or dial 999 where there’s a threat to life.
You can also report hate crime at a third party reporting centre. Find a third party reporting centre in your area at www.gmpcc.org.uk/hatecrime
Image courtesy of Global Panaroma, with thanks.
