This report shows many trans and non-binary people cannot access medically necessary gender-affirming care. This care is often simply not available within the public health system.
Counting Ourselves: The health and wellbeing of trans and non-binary people in Aotearoa New Zealand
(She/Her)
Senior Lecturer
Faculty of Social Sciences
University of Waikato
Jaimie F Veale is a Canadian-New Zealand psychology academic, and as of 2021 is a senior lecturer at the University of Waikato
New Zealander
About
Our findings illustrate the stark contrast and health inequities between trans and non-binary people and the general population, especially in the areas of mental health and wellbeing, including the very high rates of psychological distress and suicide attempts within our communities.
Our findings illustrate the stark contrast and health inequities between trans and non-binary people and the general population, especially in the areas of mental health and wellbeing, including the very high rates of psychological distress and suicide attempts within our communities.
One of the goals of this research project was to explore possible reasons for these health inequities.
Key Findings
Other barriers we identified include cost, lack of information about how to access services, long waiting lists and gaps in health providers’ knowledge about gender affirming care. Participants described other barriers they faced when they were trying to access healthcare. These included being asked unnecessary or inappropriate questions and being referred to by the incorrect name or gender, which meant that many participants delayed or avoided seeking care.
Our findings illustrate the huge personal impact of the stigma that people face for being trans or non-binary. Counting Ourselves participants reported widespread discrimination, especially in public places, trying to find a job or housing and at work. Most did not have the correct gender marker on their identity documents, and many of these participants reported that this resulted in harassment and other negative and stressful experiences in many areas of their lives.
We also found high rates of harassment and violence against trans and non-binary people, including by family members and partners.
How to use
Provide access to gender-affirming healthcare – provide clear pathways, based on informed consent and self-determination, for timely access to gender-affirming healthcare through the public health system, including hair removal, puberty blockers, hormones, fertility preservation, voice therapy, counselling and mental health support and gender-affirming surgeries.
Provide access to gender-affirming healthcare – provide clear pathways, based on informed consent and self-determination, for timely access to gender-affirming healthcare through the public health system, including hair removal, puberty blockers, hormones, fertility preservation, voice therapy, counselling and mental health support and gender-affirming surgeries.
Provide access to gender-affirming healthcare – provide clear pathways, based on informed consent and self-determination, for timely access to gender-affirming healthcare through the public health system, including hair removal, puberty blockers, hormones, fertility preservation, voice therapy, counselling and mental health support and gender-affirming surgeries.
Want to read the full paper? It is available open access
Veale J, Byrne J, Tan K, Guy S, Yee A, Nopera T & Bentham R (2019) Counting Ourselves: The health and wellbeing of trans and non-binary people in Aotearoa New Zealand. Transgender Health Research Lab, University of Waikato: Hamilton NZ.
About this research
Transgender Health Research Lab
Funding was received from the Health Research Council NZ and the Emerging Researcher First Grant NZ
This paper was co-authored
Jack Byrne
Kyle Tan
Sam Guy
Ashe Yee
Tāwhanga Nopera
Ryan Bentham
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What it means
We found reasons to be hopeful for the future. Trans and non-binary youth were more likely to have grown up with a family/wh_nau member who helped them to legally transition or researched how best to support them. Participants who were supported by their family/wh_nau were also more likely to have positive mental health.
Methodology
Research findings came from a survey of 1,178 participants who all identified as trans or binary, aged 14 years or older and currently living in New Zealand.
Researchers should be aware Counting Ourselves is based on a convenience sample where any trans or non-binary person could participate, which means we cannot know for sure to what extent it is representative of the general population.
Let your research make a social impact
Yasmine Finbow prepared this research following an interview with Dr Jaimie Veale.
