Trans and Gender Diverse Community Track

Mini-Symposia

CO12 - Mental Health: It Isn't What You Think! How a Trans-led Organization Embraced 'Access First' as a Pathway to Better Mental Health

Presenter(s)

• AF

  Alex Filippelli, MSW

  director of programs
  gender health center

  Nothing to disclose

Co-Presenter(s)

• BH

  Ben Hudson, Jr.

  Executive Director
  Gender Health Center

  Nothing to disclose

Gender Health Center is a trans-led mental health organization in Sacramento that provides mental health, healthcare navigation, hormone therapy, HIV services to a panel of over 1500 transgender community members throughout Northern & Central California each year. Given that what exactly the role of mental health is in transgender care remains open for debate, and the legacy or gatekeeping and pathologization that frame our work, GHC founders will share with trans and non-binary community members & professionals how we have organized ourselves for gender justice. This presentation will: 1) examine how national and global policies regulate access to live-saving transgender healthcare; 2) share strategies that support transgender self-determination, mental health, & access to care; and 3) formulate steps to take action on re-centering trans and non-binary voices as expert stakeholders in determining pathways for accessible and equitable healthcare.

Learning Objectives:

• examine how national and global policies regulate access to live-saving transgender healthcare;
• share strategies that support transgender self-determination, mental health, & access to care;
• formulate steps to take action on re-centering trans and non-binary voices as expert stakeholders in determining pathways for accessible and equitable healthcare

1. examine how national and global policies regulate access to live-saving transgender healthcare;
2. share strategies that support transgender self-determination, mental health, & access to care;
3. formulate steps to take action on re-centering trans and non-binary voices as expert stakeholders in determining pathways for accessible and equitable healthcare