Elderly transgender mental health: Global and local challenges

Abstract

ABSTRACT Elderly transgender mental health has been a neglected facet of mental health for many years. The current article reviews the global and local challenges faced when catering to elderly transgender mental health. These include trauma and stigma that may be faced when seeking mental health services, in addition to the stigma of belonging to the transgender community. There are many barriers in access to health-care services that have been highlighted, and there are factors such as social discrimination, victimization, hate crime, and domestic violence that add to the barriers. Lack of proper clinics that cater to their needs, improper coverage in health-care insurance, and lack of coverage of sex-change operations also add to the existing burden. Workplace issues and their impact on mental health along with stigma and workplace discrimination are also discussed. The review tries to give an overview of the issues faced, so that clinicians treating these populations are appraised of the same.