An Exploration of Transgender People’s Lived Experiences in Addressing Mental Health Challenges in Vietnam

This paper examines transgender people’s mental health in Vietnam, and factors that influence their health status. It also explores how transgender people address their mental health challenges in the context of significant discrimination and limited access to social services. Recent studies have shown that both transgender women (TGW) and transgender men (TGM) are experiencing higher rates of discrimination than others, e.g. 85.9% face discrimination as a result of changing their appearance and gestures, 29.3% are forced by family to go for medical examination, and 46% of TGM (highest rate among LGBTI) are discriminated against and bullied by classmates. Importantly, transgender people (TGP) have been challenged with mental health disorders, such as 93.7% of TGM and 67.7% TGW frequently experienced gender dysphoria and near 10% of TGP experienced depression. They have to suffer from violence at home, school, work and in public spaces to reconfirm gender identity that contributes to their mental health problems. Moreover, this group is facing endless difficulties in accessing healthcare services. This study employs a qualitative approach with 16 in-depth interviews (8 TGP and 8 social service providers) and four focus group discussions of 22 TGP. The results portray the TGP’s mental health issues and contributing factors on an individual to family and society level. The study also explores how TGP cope with their mental health problems and the availability of psychosocial support services. Significantly, the study advocates for raising awareness of TGP’s mental health and proposes prospective professional approach and implications for clinical social work.