Project 440674

Trans and non-binary (TGNB) individuals face barriers to receiving health care and experience high rates of mental health issues linked to stigma and discrimination. "Trans" is an umbrella term for people whose gender identity or gender expression differs from what is typically associated with the sex they were assigned at birth. Non-binary individuals do not fall within standard categorizations of man or woman, but fall outside the typical gender binary. Longitudinal TGNB health research is rare, and interventions developed with the input of TGNB individuals are not typically available. There is thus an urgent need for TGNB stakeholder-informed longitudinal studies and interventions developed with TGNB participants to support mental health and well-being. The proposed research is an opportunity to address these gaps by working with TGNB community members to prioritize needs and develop, test, and disseminate interventions to address identified needs. For example, if relationships with health care providers is a key issue, then an intervention can be developed to help individuals communicate more effectively with health care providers and be better self-advocates. Key outcomes of the proposed research will include the prioritization of mental health care and support needs that can be addressed by interventions and a framework for developing interventions based on a successful model used in rare disease research. Interviews with key stakeholders will inform topics for further research to be conducted in an observational cohort. The combined evidence from interviews and cohort surveys will inform the development of an initial intervention to address health education, health care management, and psychological needs of TGNB individuals. The proposed intervention will be prepared for feasibility testing and, subsequently, testing in a full-scale trial, which will lay the groundwork for dissemination and the development of additional interventions.