New Trans Advocacy Service for Brighton and Hove
MindOut and Healthwatch Brighton and Hove are delighted to announce a new partnership to set up the city’s first Trans Advocacy Service. Jointly funded by NHS Brighton and Hove CCG and Brighton and Hove City Council, the service will provide person-centred advocacy support for Trans communities in Brighton and Hove.
The Advocacy Service will offer advice, information, representation and case work support on all issues related to Trans care pathways, including services and treatment at the Gender Identity Clinic and
- Primary and secondary health care
- Social Care
- Legal issues
- Family and relationships
- Employment
- Housing
- Hate crime, harassment and bullying
- Diagnosis
- Treatment options, referral systems and waiting times
- as well as health issues not related to the trans care pathway
All MindOut services are free, independent, impartial and confidential.
The need for this new service is clearly demonstrated by the city wide Trans Needs Assessment (1) and is supported by the city’s Trans Alliance. The announcement coincides with the recent release of the Government’s report on Transgender Equality (2) which calls for improvements to the rights of trans people.
Research into the mental health needs of Trans people (3) shows that 84% of respondents experienced suicidal distress, dropping to 3% post transition demonstrating a clear indication of the life-saving potential of prompt and timely support.
Helen Jones, Director of MindOut said ”we are so pleased to be able to provide much needed, dedicated support for Trans communities. We look forward to working closely with local Trans groups and organisations to meet growing needs.”
Nicky Cambridge, Chief Executive of Healthwatch Brighton and Hove said “Healthwatch is delighted to be part of this project. We will ensure that the issues being raised by Trans people accessing services are raised at local and national levels so that systems improve and change permanently. We will do this with the community who have faced institutional prejudice and discrimination for far too long.”
Dr Sam Hall, Chair of Clare Project and Trans Alliance representative said “This is a fantastic example of how the Trans Needs Assessment can be used as a springboard to achieve equality of access to services for Brighton & Hove’s trans residents and service users. We look forward to working with MindOut to ensure that the best possible use is made of this new service.”
For more information about MindOut please see www.mindout.org.uk, email [email protected], tel 01273 234839
For Healthwatch see www.healthwatchbrightonandhove.co.uk , email [email protected], tel 01273 23 40 41
(2)http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201516/cmselect/cmwomeq/390/390.pdf
(3)http://www.scottishtrans.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/trans_mh_study.pdf
To download a PDF version of this press release please click here.