March 31 is Trans Day of Visibility. An annual international celebration of trans pride and awareness.

Trans Day of Visibility is an opportunity for trans and gender diverse people to share inspirational stories of their journeys and for their achievements to be celebrated.

It’s also a day to raise awareness of the discrimination faced by trans people and to elevate their lived experiences and the need to change this.

If you’d like to learn more about the trans community, as a first step check out Minus18 and Transhub.

Here are some other resources.

Minus18 Trans pathway report

Minus 18 Young and Queer report

Headspace Outspoken campaign

According to Suicide Prevention Australia, compared to the general population, LGBTIQ young people aged 16 to 27 are 5 times more likely to attempt suicide, and transgender people aged 18 and over are nearly 11 times more likely to attempt suicide. 48.1% of transgender people reported attempting suicide – that’s almost half of all transgender people.

Trans Pathways, the largest study ever conducted on the mental health of trans young people in Australia, found that almost three-quarters (74.6%) of Trans Pathways participants have at some time been diagnosed with depression. 72.2% have been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder. Self-harm and suicidality are also very high, with 79.7% of Trans Pathways participants ever having self-harmed, and 48.1% have attempted suicide at some point in their life.

Research carried out through the University of Melbourne in 2021 into why nearly half of transgender Australians attempted suicide found that 67% of participants experienced anxiety and 73% experienced depression. “Shockingly, 33 per cent reported discrimination from employment as a result of being trans, and the unemployment rate of 19% was more than three times the national rate.”

In 2022 the Trevor Project conducted a survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health in America aged 13 to 24. They found that 59% of transgender boys/men considered suicide in the past year and 22% attempted suicide, 48% of transgender girls/women considered suicide and 12% attempted suicide.

Echoing the Australian data, 79% of transgender boys/men in America experienced anxiety and 69% experienced depression. 71% of transgender girls/women experienced anxiety and 60% experienced depression.

The survey found, “fewer than 1 in 3 transgender and nonbinary youth found their home to be gender-affirming.”

Here are some verbatims that were collected during the research stage for the Trans Pathways report.

“My partner and I, who are both trans, have limited housemate prospects because of [being trans]. We also could have experienced discrimination by rental organisations (although there is no way of knowing for sure). More directly, having no family support because of being trans meant we didn’t have a safety net other young people at risk of homelessness likely would have,” Transgender non-binary, 22.

“I moved out of home at 16 because my family couldn’t handle the fact that I’m trans. I stayed at a youth refuge for a year,” Non-binary trans boy, 19.

“If I was cis-gendered then my family would support me – I have four younger siblings who attend private schools, own cars and go on international holidays & exchange trips that are all funded by our parents. I have been classified as homeless (or at risk thereof) for several years (2007 through 2013). Since 2014 though I’ve lived in the same private rental, supported by Centrelink allowance & a part-time wage. So it doesn’t feel like I am almost homeless anymore,” Transgender male, 25.

For confidential 24/7 support please contact:

• LIFELINE 13 11 14
• QLIFE 1800 184 547
• KIDS HELPLINE 1800 55 1800

Minus18 provides life-changing support to young people, families, schools and workplaces all across Australia. Minus18 tackles social isolation by creating spaces where LGBTQIA+ young people belong and are celebrated.

Unfortunately, because of discrimination and isolation, LGBTQIA+ young people experience higher rates of mental illness and suicide than heterosexual and cisgender young people.

• Up to 21 per cent of high school students around the world identify as LGBTQIA+
• 66 per cent will experience some form of harassment or bullying due to their identity

As a result, LGBTQIA+ young people are 5 times as likely to experience anxiety or depression and 3 times as likely to attempt suicide.

87% of young people who have interacted with Minus18 report a positive improvement in their feelings of self and identity.

Since 2011, Minus18 has transformed the lives of LGBTQIA+ young people Australia-wide:

• Over 70,000 LGBTQIA+ youth have attended events
• Over 36,707 people have participated in inclusion training
• Over 4 million people have accessed free digital resources and education