A STUDY ON GENDER DIVERSITY, SEX REASSIGNMENT SURGERY, SOCIAL STIGMAS, AND THE ROLE OF COGNITIVE-BEHAVIORAL THERAPY IN PROMOTING THE MENTAL HEALTH OF THE LGBT POPULATION.

Abstract

This work proposes to study gender identities and investigate how this population is being assisted by the Public Health System. Cases of homophobia that have harmed mental health and contributed to a low life expectancy in this population will be observed. Concepts of identity and subjectivity, which are present in human relationships and contribute to the development of a society, will be presented. A brief historical context on homosexuality in Ancient Greece will serve as content to understand how same-sex relationships were viewed at that time. The search for hormone therapy and gender reassignment surgery will be discussed to understand the need for such interventions so that transgender people can feel more coherent with their way of being, thinking, and acting. To this end, bibliographic methods were used, searching for topics related to the subject, prioritizing content on surgical hormonal treatment, concepts of identity and subjectivity, current laws in favor of LGBT people, and the position of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy in the face of the psychological demands and harms of this population, resulting from factors such as lack of family and social support and the precariousness of public service mechanisms. This investigation revealed relevant data on homophobic violence, with or without deaths, and reports of discriminatory situations related to the specific needs of transgender people. It is concluded that there is an urgent need for these individuals to have access to psychological care with a preventive approach to potential suicide cases resulting from a stigmatizing life.