Access to health is, according to the World Health Organization, a fundamental human right, however transgender people experience significant barriers in accessing health and psychosocial support services, which limit the care they can receive and, therefore, the overall quality of their health and well-being. Systemic discrimination, stigma, negative perceptions surrounding transgender identities, and the limited awareness of professionals on gender identity issues are some of the factors that contribute to limiting transgender people's access to quality health and mental health services.
The Transcare training program aims to strengthen the knowledge of professionals regarding gender identity issues and the needs of trans people from health and mental health services, and to develop their skills to remove the obstacles trans people face seeking health services, creating safe and inclusive health structures, and providing quality services that meet the needs of transgender people.
The training program is aimed at health professionals (doctors of all specialties, nurses, midwives, health visitors, etc.), mental health and psychosocial support professionals (psychologists, psychotherapists, social workers, etc.), administrative personnel in health facilities, as well as students of relevant faculties.
WHAT WILL YOU LEARN
Upon completing the online training programme you will be able to:
- Understand basic concepts and terminology regarding gender identity, sexual orientation, sex characteristics and gender expression
- Understand the challenges faced by trans people in accessing health services & the impact of discrimination on the physical and mental health of trans people
- Know the national legal framework on gender identity
- Better understand the health needs of trans people
- Be aware of good practices for the creation of inclusive health structures
- Be aware of guidelines for providing inclusive services in specialized areas such as mental health, sexual and reproductive health, and medical gender transition procedures
SYLLABUS
The training material consists of 4 modules, each of which is divided into lessons and lectures (units).
- Module 1 - Basic concepts and terminology: The first module is an introduction to the basic concepts and issues related to gender identity and trans identities, and LGBTQI+ terminologies more broadly.
- Module 2 - Access to services: The second module focuses on trans people's access to health services and aims to provide practitioners with a comprehensive overview regarding the challenges faced by trans people when seeking health care: the process of (de)pathologisation of LGBTQI+ identities, gaps and deficiencies in healthcare structures and their effect on trans people's access to relevant services, the need for training of practitioners and the legal framework regarding gender identity.
- Module 3 - Creating inclusive services: The third module focuses on providing targeted guidelines for health professionals to create an inclusive and safe environment for transgender people, both as beneficiaries of services and as staff members, at the level of health structures and during personal contact and service delivery.
- Module 4 - Specialised services: The last module focuses on the provision of specialised health services for trans people (mental health, medical transition, sexual and reproductive health, intersectional service provision).
Content Creators
Agapi Angelaki
Mrs Agapi Angelaki MPH is a Social Worker and a Public Health researcher affiliated to the School of Medicine of the University of Crete.
Georgia Angeli
Georgia Angeli, Undergraduate Student at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Ioannina. Local Officer on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights including HIV&AIDS. Peer educator on Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE).
Marilena Anastasaki
Marilena Anastasaki, MSc, PhD is a Public Health and Epidemiology researcher affiliated to the School of Medicine of the University of Crete. Her research interests include socio-economic determinants of health, heatlh behaviour change, implementation science and integrated care.
Christina Gennata
Christiana Gennata, Psychologist and trainee psychotherapist. She is also scientific partner of Orlando LGBT+ and scientific partner of the psychological helpline 11528 - By your side.
Georgios Giannopapas
Georgios Giannopapas, Second Year Undergraduate Student, University of Crete, Faculty of Medicine. Secretary of HelMSIC Local Committee of Heraklion. Local Officer on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights including HIV&AIDS.
Athina Drakaki
Athina Drakaki, MD. Graduate from the Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly (2016 - 2022). HelMSIC Transcare Taskforce Coordinator. Soft skills trainer & Peer educator on Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE).
Neli Kaouni
Neli Kaouni is a social worker.
They have been a president, treasurer and board member of Colour Youth, as well as a representative of Colour Youth in the Racist Violence Recording Network.
Vasilis Kiosses
Vasilis Kiosses, Psychologist- Psychotherapist, PhD in Medicine (University of Ioannina). Creator of the “Empathize with me, Doctor!” project, a global award winning, innovative, experiential empathy training for health professionals. Scientific associate of Orlando LGBT+
Erofili Kokkali
Erofili Kokkali was born and raised in Athens. She is a writer, actress and since 2015 she works as a sexual health counsellor in the structures of Positive Voice (Athens Checkpint-Red Umbrella Athens-Ref Checkpoint).She has worked in the Faros, TransR, HIV Political Archive and Transcare Project.
Nathanail Linardis
Nathanail Linardis is a visual artist, Florina’s Fine Art School graduate, a musician, poet and writer. He is Colour Youth’s former secretary and board member, former project manager of the racist violence recording program “Tell Us”, and had been working as a research expert on Transcare Project.
Christos Lionis
Christos Lionis is an Emeritus Professor of General Practice and Primary Health Care, at the School of Medicine, University of Crete and Guest Professor of General Practice in the Institute of Health and Medicine at the University of Linkoping, Sweden. Christos has served a member the European Commission Expert Panel on Effective Ways of Investing in Health, while he serves the Specific Advisory Group of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) until today. He also is a member of the Executive Board of various professional organisations including that of WONCA Working Party on Mental Health where he is currently elected as Chair.
Merope Orfanoudaki
Merope Orfanoudaki (she/they) MA Graduate from the Faculty of Social Anthropology and History, Aegean University. specialization: Gender, Culture and Society (2021-2023). MA graduate from the faculty of Philosophy and Pedagogy, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (2015-2017). BSc Philosophy, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (2009-2015). External partner of AKMI S.A. who has contributed to the development of Transcare training materials.
Filippos Paganis
Filippos Paganis, Psychologist, Trainee existential psychotherapist. He is a member of the scientific team of Orlando LGBT+. He has been actively involved in LGBTQ+ activism since 2012, and participates as a researcher and trainer in awareness-raising and training programs for professionals on issues concerning the LGBTQ+ community.
Nancy Papathanasiou
Nancy Papathanasiou, PhD in Clinical Psychology. Scientific co-director of Orlando LGBT+ and “11528” - Helpline for LGBTQI+ people, their friends, families, school and work environments. ΈHas designed and teaches the course Gender Identities and Sexual Orientation for the department of Social Work, University of West Attica.
Maria Eluisa Stavaras
She graduated from the Dental School, School of Health Sciences, Aristoteleian University of Thessaloniki in 2002. She completed her 3-year Masters Degree (MSc) in Endodontology in 2007 at the same University and in 2022 graduated from the MSc ‘Global Health - Disaster Medicine’, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. She works as a Scientific Associate, MSc “Global Health – Disaster Medicine”. She is the communication officer for the 2-year Erasmus+ INSIGHT project, which tackles LGBTI+ discrimination in Healthcare Systems. She participates in the Program (KE:19325): Health interventions for Roma children: prevention, health education, access to the NHS
Eleni – Panagiota (Elda) Stoupa
Eleni – Panagiota (Elda) Stoupa is a scientific associate at the MSc ‘Global Health – Disaster Medicine’ at the School of Medicine of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, and a Research Associate at the Center of Mediterranean, Middle East and Islamic Studies in the framework of the Department of Political Science and International Relations of the University of Peloponnese. She holds a BSc in Political Science and Public Administration from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens with a specialization in Political Analysis and a MSc in Social Anthropology from the University of Edinburgh. She has worked as a project manager and coordinator in multiple EU and internationally funded projects, and she has participated as a researcher in multiple public health projects related to vulnerable populations.
Elena Olga Christidi
Elena Olga Christidi, Psychologist-Psychotherapist, PhD(c) NKUA. Scientific co-director of Orlando LGBT+ and “11528” - Helpline for LGBTQI+ people, their friends, families, school and work environments. Has designed the course Gender Identities and Sexual Orientation for the department of Social Work, University of West Attica, and participates as a visiting professor.