Scientists are urging governments to act as reports have shown that existing inequalities which cause mental and physical health issues in the trans community are exacerbated during the coronavirus pandemic. Tara Pilkington brings you the latest.
Writing in the medical journal, The Lancet, scientists from the Chinese National Clinical Research Centre on Mental Disorders, Peking University Third Hospital in China, and the universities of Oxford and De Montfort in the UK have all said that governments must urgently consider the impact of the pandemic on trans communities around the world.
Here’s what you need to know:
- The group of six scientists, who are endocrinologists and specialists in transgender healthcare, have said: “As a marginalised group, inequalities faced by transgender individuals in policies and social aspects, such as legislated policies based on binary gender norms, could increase the risk of illness and mortality during the COVID-19 pandemic,”
- They added: “To prevent the potential overload of health-care systems by COVID-19 cases, most hospitals have cancelled or postponed elective procedures to save resources. Thus, it is even more difficult for transgender individuals to access hormone interventions and gender-affirming surgeries.”
- They also highlighted that: “Because of the difficulties caused by coronavirus discussed above, it is likely that trans individuals are also facing challenging situations with regards to their mental health.”
The scientists have called for governments to urgently find ways of ensuring that medical treatment for trans people, such as hormone treatments and virtual appointments with gender specialists, don’t get suddenly stopped.