(Cisgender people are those whose gender identity is what is assigned when they are born.)

You may be asked to affirm your identity before joining one of them.

Additionally, some groups are by invitation only and may require networking for accessibility.

Trans Lifeline

Trans Lifeline

All of the operators who work for the hotline are transgender.

While it started as a service specifically for people in crisis, that is no longer the case.

Though Trans Lifeline states that calls are recorded for quality assurance, all calls are anonymous and confidential.

The Trevor Project

The Trevor Project

Trans Lifeline is only available eight hours a day, Monday through Friday.

To address this need, they created The Trevor Project.

The Trevor Project offers several support resources for LGBTQIA+ youth.

Transbucket

Transbucket

All calls and messages connect users to trained crisis counselors any time and from anywhere.

It also provides materials to help schools develop comprehensive suicide prevention policies that address kids' needs.

On Transbucket, you could find stories about peoples experiences undergoing various types of gender-affirming care.

The Tribe - LGBT Group

The Tribe - LGBT Group

It also has an extensive therapist directory to help you find ongoing mental health support.

Additionally, many transgender individuals are also lesbian, gay, bisexual, or another sexual orientation minority.

Therefore, sometimes an LGBTQIA+ support group can be a good option.

Trans Woman on the Phone

Alex Farfuri / Getty Images

This is particularly true for individuals whose concerns are less about their gender and more about other stressors.

This is whereThe Tribecomes in - specifically, the “LGBTribe.”

The Tribe offers several options for receiving support, including an LGBTQIA+ peer-to-peer support group.

Transgender individuals face unique stressors that can negatively impact their mental health.

A persons gender identity can change over the course of their life orfrom day to day.

This includes individuals who have a binary identity, such as transgender men who were assigned female at birth.

It also includes people who arenon-binary, genderqueer, or agender.

Language continues to evolve, so it can be helpful to become familiar with currentterminology around gender identity.

What Do Transgender Support Groups Offer?

How Can Transgender Support Groups Help You?

Being part of asupport groupcan help you find resources created specifically for people like you to cope with obstacles.

They can also give you a sense of community as you listen and talk to others.

Why Do Transgender People Have an Increased Risk of Mental Health Problems?

These experiences are associated with an increased risk ofdepression,anxiety, andtrauma.

They may also increase a persons risk of developing problematic coping skills, such as smoking orsubstance use.

Is an Online Transgender Support Group or Online Therapy Better for Me?

Both support groups andonline therapycan be resources for transgender individuals looking for help.

However, support groups are not the same as psychotherapy treatment.

Our top priority in assessing resources was finding groups that provide affirming, competent support for transgender individuals.

We also considered factors such as structure, accessibility, and flexibility.

The resources included in this guide were selected to include the most respected, publicly available online support groups.

We carefully vetted resources to ensure that readers get competent care and have accurate information.

She has published extensively about gender health and routinely provides online support to her patients.