Gender Identity with Liat Kaye

Everyone has a gender identity and expresses their gender in a unique and personal way. Psychotherapist Liat Kaye MSEd, MSc, MBPsS talks to the Be Well about gender identity, explaining the difference between gender, sex, sexuality and gender presentation. 

For someone exploring or questioning their sexuality or gender, this can be a confusing and difficult time which can often affect our mental health in various ways. The LGBTIQ+ community are at higher risk of poor mental health, according to a recent study from Stonewall, half of LGBTIQ+ people had experienced depression and three in five had experienced anxiety.

Gender dysphoria is the term used to describe the distress one might experience if they feel that their gender does not match the sex which they were assigned at birth. Individuals may also experience issues with body image. We know that eating disorders disproportionately impact some segments of the LGBTIQ+ community.

If you are experiencing issues surrounding your gender identity please know that it is not something which you have to go through alone. There are organisations such as Gender Trust, Stonewall and Mindline Trans+ who provide specific mental health support, advice and information to the LGBTIQ+ community.