Negotiating mental health amongst transgender parents in Australia

Abstract

Background: Many transgender (trans) parents experience challenges related to their mental health, which can affect and impact on their experiences of parenting, however there is scant research on how Australian trans parents contextualize and experience their mental health, the support they receive for it, and impacts within the family context. Aims: The present study aims to address these gaps in the literature, through examining how Australian trans parents contextualize and experience issues around their mental health, and their experience of formal and informal support for their mental health? Methods: This study aimed to explore these experiences, through a qualitative research design using online open-ended survey data and one-on-one interviews, with 66 trans parents, aged 24–67 years old. Data was analyzed using thematic analysis. Results: Many participants reported significant challenges in relation to their mental health: such as depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation, which reportedly made parenting challenging. However, participants reported that gender affirmation as well as family and social support had a positive impact on their mental health. The majority of participants reported feeling they had to educate their therapist, that they were pigeon-holed by their gender identity or, had concerns about confidentiality. However, some participants expressed positive interactions with therapists, particularly therapists specializing in, or knowledgeable of, trans health. Conclusion: The results reinforced the need for mental health professionals and associated services to be competent in treating trans parents and reiterated the positive impact of family and social support, as well as support for gender affirmation, on the mental health of trans parents and their ability to parent.