When Depression Turns Deadly: Society, Suicide and Transgender People

<p>Like other healthcare professionals, I&rsquo;m trained to think about the worst-case scenario: What&rsquo;s the most dangerous thing that could be going on with this person? We also have to think about who&rsquo;s in front of us, and how likely a given problem is for people like them. The top concern I have for young adult patients, and especially young transgender patients, is suicide.</p> <p>In the college health clinic where I work as a nurse practitioner, I often see young adult patients who identify as transgender. Sometimes they come in to discuss hormone therapy and other gender-related care, but most often, they have the same kinds of health problems as other young adults: minor injuries, infections, and mental health concerns like depression and anxiety.</p> <p>Depression in particular has me worried. A recurring theme I hear from transgender patients is that they&rsquo;re scared, sad, and angry &mdash; not exactly a recipe for happiness and stability. It&rsquo;s no surprise that depression is extremely common among this group.</p> <p><a href="https://medium.com/wise-well/when-depression-turns-deadly-society-suicide-and-transgender-people-8c64ed161252">Read More</a></p>