1.1 The ICTA project
A core feature of this course is that it is evidence-informed – meaning the content is based on research findings rather than anecdote or opinion. The course incorporates understandings from existing research as well as from a major research study which is described below.
The Integrating Care for Trans Adults (ICTA) project has been a major National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) study looking at what constitutes best practice in the care of trans people. You can find more information about the study and the findings related specifically to mental health on the ICTA website [Tip: hold Ctrl and click a link to open it in a new tab. (Hide tip)] .
ICTA did not originally plan to look at mental health. However, the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the mental health of populations globally (Robinson et al., 2022; Wu et al., 2021) and of trans people specifically (Hawke et al., 2021; van der Miesen et al., 2020). Moreover, an ICTA survey found that many participants disclosed mental health difficulties. All of this suggested that ICTA needed to focus on trans adults’ experiences of mental health and mental health treatment.
Activity 1.1: Mental health in the ICTA survey participants
To find out what participants reported, answer the following multiple-choice questions. When you are finished, click the ‘Check your answer’ button to see if you are correct.
Accessing psychology therapy (but not for anything related to gender transition)
a.
4%
b.
11%
c.
26%
d.
35%
The correct answer is c.
a.
14%
b.
28%
c.
32%
d.
39%
The correct answer is b.
Accessing community-based mental health care
a.
1.6%
b.
6.6%
c.
12%
d.
18%
The correct answer is d.
a.
1.6%
b.
6.6%
c.
12%
d.
18%
The correct answer is b.
Discussion
More than 1 in 4 ICTA participants currently and historically had felt the need to seek psychological therapy. Almost 1 in 5 had accessed community-based mental health services. 55% also wanted psychological therapy to support them in their gender transition. Overall, the data suggests a higher-than-average mental health burden and need for mental health support. This finding corresponds with other prior research (Tan et al., 2021; Ellis et al., 2015; McNeil et al., 2012).
1 Introduction