Abstract

Background

There are for the time being no systematic studies exploring transgender and non-binary (TGNB) mental health in the Serbian context which, over the last three decades, has been characterized by profound social transformations.

Method

We draw upon 15 semi-structured interviews with members of a TGNB self-help group operating in Belgrade, Serbia. The material was analyzed using inductive thematic analysis.

Results

We identified three elements of group operation: 1) information, support, and community, 2) navigating the medical/psychiatric system, and 3) dealing with gender binarism. While the group is important for helping its members navigate the medical system in terms of mental health professionals’ expectations regarding “proper” candidates for gender affirmation procedures, it has a hard time escaping a gender binarism that characterizes its social context.

Conclusions

Despite significant improvements in the situation of TGNB people concerning psychiatric gatekeeping and legal gender recognition, the TGNB community is still marginalized with mental health being one of the main areas of marginalization. Activist organizations’ alternative forms of mental health care can help to transform mainstream mental health policies rendering them more sensitive to the needs of TGNB individuals.

中文翻译：

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塞尔维亚的TGNB人员，心理健康和性别二元主义

摘要

背景

目前，在塞尔维亚背景下，没有系统的研究探索变性和非二元（TGNB）精神健康，而在过去的三十年中，该健康已发生了深刻的社会变革。

方法

我们对在塞尔维亚贝尔格莱德开展业务的TGNB自助小组的成员进行了15次半结构化访谈。使用归纳主题分析对材料进行了分析。

结果

我们确定了小组运作的三个要素：1）信息，支持和社区； 2）在医疗/精神病学系统中导航； 3）处理性别二元主义。尽管该小组对于帮助其成员根据精神卫生专业人员对性别确认程序的“合适”候选人的期望而在医疗体系中发挥重要作用，但它很难摆脱具有其社会背景特征的性别二元主义。

结论

尽管TGNB人在精神病监护和合法性别识别方面的状况有了显着改善，但TGNB社区仍处于边缘化状态，而心理健康是边缘化的主要领域之一。维权人士组织的替代形式的精神卫生保健可以帮助转变主流的精神卫生政策，使其对TGNB个人的需求更加敏感。