“Genuinely” single sex wards are not the best standard of care for all and in particular, trans and non-binary service users - survey

[IwantToRetire]

Through desk-based research and a survey, led by a trans and non-binary researcher, we have asked the question: what are trans and non-binary people’s experiences of single sex spaces in mental health settings in England?

We have asked this question in order to centre the experience of trans and non-binary service users on single sex wards and to better understand what needs to change to make mental health settings safer places for trans and non-binary people experiencing mental distress.

This research found that there is significant variation in trust policies relating to trans and non-binary service users, with gaps between trust policies and peoples’ actual experiences that indicate the urgent need for a better standard of care for trans and non-binary service users. Trans and non-binary service users face serious discrimination and harm within care settings from staff and other service users.

Our key recommendations for services are are:
~ Recognise that single sex wards are not the best standard of care for all service users, in particular, trans and non-binary service users, and take steps to assess and mitigate possible negative impact.
~ Locate the problem in services, not in service users: ask how services and practice can change to support and include trans and non-binary service users.
~ Name the political nature of trans health in policy, education and practice, and the ways in which the needs of trans and non-binary service users may be being neglected or undermined in services.
~ Set out how gender-affirming care and physical health needs of trans patients in mental health inpatient settings will be met with emphasis on not being an obstacle to gender-affirming care.

Extract from www.nsun.org.uk/news/new-nsun-research-report-single-sex-spaces/

NSUN = National Survivor User Network

Third spaces should meet everyone's needs. But they don't because they don't validate males who don't give a shiny shit about the mental health of women who they impose themselves on.

This is worrying. I thought it was the law since 2019 that NHS inpatient accommodation had to be single sex. I know it was eviscerated by Annexe B but this is presenting it like it’s a new thing.
DH is currently in a secure psychiatric ward. There are male and female patients there. The women's rooms are at one end of the ward and the men are not allowed to go there. The TV room and dining room are towards the men's end of the ward and the women can go there, presumably because they are not considered a potential threat. I haven't seen any geezers in babydoll nightie and fluffy Pom Pom mule slippers but I wonder what end they'd be given a bed?

I suspect that you're correct. But we mustn't pathologise them, apparently...

Slightly off topic but a recent experience gave me a sense of the extent of widespread lack of understanding of women's needs.

Last week a woman presented to my department to have a bladder investigation. The male Consultant announced he couldn't do a female catheterisation (necessary for the investigation) so there was a scurry around to find someone to do the catheterisation. Apparently I was the only person in the department who could do it.

So I went down, met the lady, and with a female junior who scrupulously locked doors, sited the catheter so that the Consultant could then do the procedure.

Afterwards a male technician expressed surprise that the Consultant couldn't do a catheterisation. I pointed out that he undoubtedly could but presumably respected that a woman would probably prefer for the procedure to be done by a female. He gawped. I warmed to my theme. "I'm sure most women would prefer same sex care and want an intimate procedure to be done by another woman" I said. He gawped more and was utterly bemused "I'd never thought of that" he said!
I went on...."I've never catheterised a man. I wasn't taught to, as it was the norm that men were catheterised by men. Probably most men would prefer single sex care too". (I enjoyed repeating the words "SINGLE SEX").

You could almost see the cogs slowly revolving....

Well that was my bit for the cause last week. But it did make me think how much we have lost - the idea of single sex care is completely foreign to some health care workers.

Or suggest that trans is anything to do with mental health. That would be unacceptable.

For clarification - this was an outpatient investigation - nothing to do with single sex wards or annexe B.

Glad to have HCPs standing up and explaining this stuff, FannyCann, thank you.

And Davros, I'm sorry to hear about your OH.

And agender (i.e. most!) women. Plus all the other 100+ genders. We have never had or aimed for single gender anything FFS. This ideology is a clear attempt to transgress women's boundaries.

OK I've read the report. Based as it is on 3 policies from 2 NHS Trusts (both in London), and eighteen service users.

I think it's an interesting area for research. I certainly read some of the comments by service users and was nodding - I used to work for a mental health Trust and some of the issues are really familiar.

I think there are a couple of handy points in there. I may roll my eyes slightly at the idea that a transman would consider pink safety clothes unsupportive of their gender as their colour meant they were 'clearly meant for women', but in fact there might be good reason to choose less socially gendered colours.

An awful lot of it though... my blood ran cold. Obviously the report didn't state the sex of the contributors (what an idea!) so i don't know whether the comment about 'more mixed sex wards please' was from a man or a woman. But the idea of the vulnerable young transmen I know being sectioned on a mixed sex ward makes me terrified for them. It also rather contradicts the report's summary implying that single-sex wards are a strange new idea in mental health trusts - of course they bloody aren't. Single versus mixed accommodation in mental health facilities has been a live debate since at least the 70s because of the intense vulnerability of women in this situation versus those who think that 'normal socialisation' is important.

I also can't help translating some of the comments from users. No they weren't going to do a complex castration and penectomy surgery requiring extensive postoperative self care on you while you were admitted to a psychiatric ward because you were a danger to yourself, don't be so bloody silly.

A woman was raped on a female ward. By a transwoman. Wards should be for the sex of the person, not the feelings of the person. Medically, sex matters. But also, women aka females need to be protected from potential sexual abuse. Fact.

Post on Reddit. A young, highly vulnerable FTM trans person who doesn't want to be on a male ward or a female ward. The all male ward is scary and threatening and the female one invalidating, I guess. Apparently there are lots of "AFAB trans" people in the mental health system.

It's a highly partisan and entirely self-serving survey, isn't it? Sort of "This is what we believe and want, we've asked our cohort and they feel the same, therefore, it's for the best."

There's no attempt at balance, or speaking to the wider population.

It also rather contradicts the report's summary implying that single-sex wards are a strange new idea in mental health trusts - of course they bloody aren't.

That stood out for me as well. I'm afraid I just thought this is written by young people and based on "theory" they have been subjected to whilst growing up. Not evidence based at all.

Just to say thanks to all of you who have some insight of the system itself.

I remember on a totally different thread some time ago commenting on an image of a woman being manhandled by the police and how frightened women were to see this

And someone came on the thread and said you should remember that nearly every day in mental health institutions, women who are actualy vulnerable and maybe having a crisis, will be physically restrained by male staff, sometimes more violently and not seen by the public.

So although I think the writers of the survey are wrong to say those who are patients shouldn't be seen as potential sources of danger, they are right to say patients need to safe from staff.

Christ, that poor person has a lot of serious issues!

And in the NHS we know that actually truly means 'fuck' women literally, then deny they've been raped as it was a single sex ward full of women.

Every time the TRAs push out a piece of 'centre us and fuck the rights of women' they push yet more actual women to the "I've had enough off this make believe shit" side.

@Shelefttheweb , you put
”For example we know that men who transition (and therefore “gender affirmed”) are more than nine times more likely to commit suicide.”

This is sad, and worrying. Could you please give me a source for this? Nine times more likely than ..? Men who might identify to themselves as women but who don’t formally transition, men in general, or something else?

Adelaide!
https://www.youtube.com/live/1C-lu7weTCA?feature=share

What was that cameraman doing filming a baby in a buggy?

I ❤️ JK Rowling mum not clocking her toddler picking up crap and eating it off the steps made me giggle...

She's probably dodged a bullet by avoiding Darwin, it's hotter than somewhere very hot and very humid. I've just had a 20 minute walk round the shops and now I've stopped dripping, I'm going to have a shower.

Shame though, I may be here till Sunday and would have been up for a lurk at the back of the crowd.

What exactly does non binary mean?

Christ, that poor person has a lot of serious issues!

Yes, I think safeguarding is very important, I don't think they are better off with any men at all.

Yes, poor soul, that sounds desperate. I have heard from service users how horrific these places can be.

Not got time at the minute to search bu it was a Swedish study. Sweden keeps a lot of information linked up about their citizens which enables them to study populations over the long term. This particular study compared mortality or transitioned men with the rest of the male population.

Apparently there are lots of "AFAB trans" people in the mental health system.

That would fit in with what we now know about girls who are autistic and/or with mental health issues being persuaded that they are ‘in the wrong body’. Thinking their feelings of alienation stem from being trans, when (to a non-ideological adult’s eye) they obviously have issues that could be healed by psychotherapy or counselling or other mental-health care.