advocate.com – By Greta Martela
Although I am in the 59 percent of transgender people who have never attempted suicide, I’ve been hospitalized for suicidal ideation six times.
The details of the last time are the most instructive for the purposes of this op-ed. A little over two years ago I finally became aware enough of what it means to be transgender and to accept it in myself. It was at a very difficult time in my life and I was very much on the edge. Eventually the old pattern reemerged and I found myself filled with the desire to end my life. I did what many people do: I called a suicide hotline.