Trans people in England at higher risk of mental ill health, study finds

Transgender people in England are much more likely to have a longterm mental health condition than cis people, the first study of its kind shows, with some facing a risk five times higher.

- Andrew Gregory , Richard Adams

Research previously suggested a higher risk of conditions such as depression and anxiety among transgender, non-binary and genderdiverse people, but this was based on small studies that were not generalisable. Now the first nationally representative study of its kind has calculated the burden of mental ill health among the transgender population and the extent to which they say their needs are unmet.

The risk of a long-term mental health condition in England is about one in six for transgender men and women (16.4% and 15.9% respectively) and one in 10 for cisgender men and women (8.8% and 12.0%), according to the study. The risk was almost one in two (47.2%) for nonbinary transgender people.

The research, led by the University of Manchester in collaboration with the Proud Trust and LGBT Foundation charities, was published in the Lancet Public Health journal.