A Chatham psychiatrist says a new, innovative Trans Health program to be offered through the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance is unique to the Chatham, Windsor, and Sarnia areas.
Dr. Rizwan Rafiq told CK News Today he doesn't believe a similar program to support the transgender population is offered anywhere else in the province, but is certain the local initiative will help many transgender people in the region.
Rafiq said the LGBTQ Support Group in Chatham has told him there's roughly 1,000 transgender people in Chatham-Kent.
Dr. Rafiq recently received a $10,000 grant for his idea from the WeRCKHA staff engagement council, which considers and recommends initiatives that will promote the achievement of the organization’s goals and contribute to the overall direction of the hospital.
The doctor said the new program to be offered in collaboration with clinics and other healthcare partners should be up and running by this summer once it's developed.
Dr. Rafiq said there are support services for transgender youth, but there's a lack of support for transgender adults and his clinical practice is seeing a greater influx of transgender adults asking for help because they are stressed out because of transphobia and fear.
"It's long standing knowing the history and it causes chronic psychological strain resulting from the stigma and the expectation of rejection and discrimination," said Dr. Rafiq. "In my clinical practice there was more and more patients arriving at my clinic and they expressed concerns that they have to go through this tedious process to get help and itself the fear they had of how they would be taken because of limited awareness [by society]."
Dr. Rafiq said the stress experienced by the transgender community can lead to depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and substance use, which he said is detrimental to some treatments, such as hormone therapy.
Dr. Rafiq said work is underway to train social workers, nurses, and other healthcare providers to make the program transition as smooth as possible and to make access easier and more comfortable for the transgender community from assessments to referrals.
"The best part will be the quick intake. [It's] not like others that they have to be streamlined with other general populations. So, that will be the rewarding point and to avoid the disappointment for this needy cohort we'd be proud to serve," said the doctor.
The new CKHA Trans Health program is designed to support trans and gender diverse individuals ages 16 and up in Chatham-Kent and will work from a "gender-affirming and informed consent approach." Services provided will include ongoing psychiatric care; physical health needs addressed with clinic Nurse Practitioners; surgery referrals; brief treatment therapy referrals; access to RAAM clinic and Withdrawal Management Services; a Gender Journey Support Group; and a Trans Mental Health Hotline.