Being Safe, Being Me 2019: Results of the Canadian Youth Trans and Non-binary Health Survey is a national study by SARAVYC that builds on a similar survey conducted by SARAVYC in 2014. Similar to the survey in 2014, this survey was available for young people to take in English or French and surveyed a range of topics including gender identity, access to gender-affirming care and physical health.
In 2019, 220 trans and/or non-binary youth in Quebec took the survey. Of the youth in Quebec who took part in the survey, 6% identified as Indigenous and 91% were born in Canada. The majority of trans and/or non-binary youth in Quebec reported that they are living in their felt gender full-time (53%) or part-time (37%). Some youth, however, are never living in their felt gender (10%).
Key findings for youth in Quebec
- 15% had to change schools due to lack of support for their gender identity
- 70% have avoided public restrooms for fear of being harassed, read as trans, or outed
- 62% could not think of anything they are really good at
- 46% are comfortable talking to their healthcare practitioner about being trans or non-binary
Recommendations for Quebec
- Train school staff to help students and teachers navigate and adapt to gender identity.
- Create mental health programs for trans youth in mental health and have less centralized and more visible safe spaces.
- Urgent and important need for gender neutral restrooms and locker rooms.
