Gender diverse people's experiences of inpatient mental health wards
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The experiences of inpatient mental health admissions of those who identify as transgender, gender diverse and/or non-binary
IRAS ID
351888
Contact name
Laura Hancox
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Research and Enterpise, The University of Lincoln
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
This research is about exploring the experiences of inpatient mental health admissions of those who identify as transgender, gender diverse and/or non binary. The data collection method will be through in-depth, semi-structured interviews. Participants will be aged 18+, who identify as transgender, gender diverse and/or non-binary, who have experienced an inpatient admission within 36 months prior to interview. Participants will take part in interviews for approximately 60 minutes, either taking place face-face or over Microsoft Teams. By using a current and contemporary sample, the proposed study would aim to account for an up-to-date representation of experiences which may have come about due to a cultural shift in society and to embed psychological input consistent with the present culture of society. Inpatient mental health environments would be an effective context to study gender diverse people’s experiences, not only because this would be novel to the UK but also gives opportunity to examine longer exposure to a setting that is inherently gendered and cisnormative for those with a non-binary internal system (Schwartz, 2023). The aims of the research are to explore the psychological needs related to gender identity of transgender, gender diverse and/or non-binary individuals and the extent to which these needs are understood and/or met how they interact with inpatient mental health environments. Should important themes concerning experiences of inpatient mental health admissions from individuals be generated, it is the hope that these could inform a greater understanding of what makes an accepting and/or person centred environment and to explore potential conflicts within the internal human psyche and external environment. Additionally, the aim is to provide space for an under-represented population’s voice to be heard, to support evidence-based changes within systems and improve care for transgender, gender diverse and/or non-binary individual.
REC name
Wales REC 4
REC reference
25/WA/0069
Date of REC Opinion
14 May 2025
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion