From Crisis to Action: Psychiatry’s Ethical Imperative to Defend Transgender People’s Rights, Dignity, and Access to Care

What is it about?

Transgender and nonbinary individuals face a public health crisis as anti-transgender legislation proliferates across the United States, exacerbating disparities in mental health outcomes. This commentary underscores the urgent need for psychiatry to champion trans-affirming policies and practices at multiple levels—grassroots, organizational, municipal, and state. Drawing on research that links anti-trans laws to increased depression, anxiety, and suicidality, we highlight the critical role of mental health professionals in advocating for ethical resistance, delivering gender-affirming care, and influencing systemic change. By leveraging their clinical and ethical expertise, mental health providers can help counteract the harms of structural stigma and foster resilience in trans communities.

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