• Mónica Guzmán-González, Jaime Barrientos, José L Saiz, Fabiola Gómez, Manuel Cárdenas, Ricardo Espinoza-Tapia, Joaquín Bahamondes, Leonor Lovera, and Alain Giami.
• Escuela de Psicología, Universidad Católica del Norte, Antofagasta, Chile.
• Rev Med Chil. 2020 Aug 1; 148 (8): 1113-1120.

BackgroundTransgender population is at a higher risk of suffering mental health problems than cisgender population (people whose sex and gender identity are in agreement) and other sexual minorities (gays, lesbians, and bisexuals), partly due to the greater stress that they suffer or for being victims of sexual prejudice.AimTo describe positive and negative mental health indicators in a sample of transgender people living in Chile.Material And MethodsAn intentional sample of 377 transgender individuals older than 18 years, living in the country's northern, center and southern zones were studied. Sociodemographic and well-being features, negative emotional symptoms, suicidal behavior, and substance consumption were assessed.ResultsA precarious mental health was confirmed among participants. A high frequency of depression, ideation and suicide attempts, and high levels of depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms were identified. Also, a high frequency of substance abuse was found. These mental health indicators varied according to the sex assigned at birth and gender self-identification.ConclusionsTransgender people experience precariousness and vulnerability in their mental health.

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