Transgender support in Brazil?
March 4, 2015 1:39 PM Subscribe
A transgender friend of mine said in a chatroom last night "Right now I'm just regretting I didn't manage to kill myself earlier last month when I tried." She is roughly five thousand miles away. What can I do?
Some quick bio information:
- she is in her early 20s, and taking college classes
- she is in São Paulo, Brazil (I have her address somewhere)
- her family, including parents (and grandparents?) are not supportive and think she's faking it for attention
- she's somewhere in the transition process, at the very first stages of counseling I believe, but recently had some negative results and last minute cancellations/reschedules that she was hoping for more info from
- her only medical coverage is the Brazilian system, which from what I understand covers at least parts of it
We're in the above-mentioned chatroom together, where she is out. It's something of an LGBT-themed fan chat thing, and everybody there knows and is supportive. I know I could get material support from at least one other person, and there's a good chance with a couple others offhand. Biggest problem is, we're all in the US at closest, and she's the only one in South America.
I just have no idea what to do that would be effective. What kind of support structures are down there? I don't think simple counseling would help in the long term, it would have to be working towards something concrete and constructive on the transition effort which seems to have stalled. I'm thinking something to help stabilize her situation in the short term, and maybe some kind of advocate and financial support for transitioning? I don't know.
I don't want to push her for more details at the moment to avoid triggering something, but if more information would help I will see what I can do.
Some quick bio information:
- she is in her early 20s, and taking college classes
- she is in São Paulo, Brazil (I have her address somewhere)
- her family, including parents (and grandparents?) are not supportive and think she's faking it for attention
- she's somewhere in the transition process, at the very first stages of counseling I believe, but recently had some negative results and last minute cancellations/reschedules that she was hoping for more info from
- her only medical coverage is the Brazilian system, which from what I understand covers at least parts of it
We're in the above-mentioned chatroom together, where she is out. It's something of an LGBT-themed fan chat thing, and everybody there knows and is supportive. I know I could get material support from at least one other person, and there's a good chance with a couple others offhand. Biggest problem is, we're all in the US at closest, and she's the only one in South America.
I just have no idea what to do that would be effective. What kind of support structures are down there? I don't think simple counseling would help in the long term, it would have to be working towards something concrete and constructive on the transition effort which seems to have stalled. I'm thinking something to help stabilize her situation in the short term, and maybe some kind of advocate and financial support for transitioning? I don't know.
I don't want to push her for more details at the moment to avoid triggering something, but if more information would help I will see what I can do.
Best answer: I know that your friend is in Brazil, but if she has access to Skype or another web phone service, the Trans Lifeline might be a good resource to pass on to her. It is a US based hotline, so the number is a US number.
posted by jaksemas at 7:18 PM on March 4, 2015 [4 favorites]
posted by jaksemas at 7:18 PM on March 4, 2015 [4 favorites]
Best answer: Fuck fuck fuck fuck.
I'm trans and in Brazil, but I'm in the northeast, thousands of km from São Paulo. I too need support but not as badly. I'm favouriting this ask to see any answers that I can use, because I haven't looked for support yet.
But, even though I can't be there for her in person, memail me for contact info. I have a friend in São Paulo who is a doctor and well aware of trans issues, she may have some resources for your friend.
Per this doctor, the public health system covers everything. It's just that it's budget is very low, so it really sucks. Is understaffed, it lacks resources, it's poorly organized, doctors are underpaid and overworked.... I can understand her getting so frustrated and impatient with it that she feels she's not getting anywhere and time keeps passing.... I have the chance to do all of this in another country, and I'm taking it.
Also, what jaksemas said.
posted by Promethea at 7:06 PM on March 5, 2015 [4 favorites]
I'm trans and in Brazil, but I'm in the northeast, thousands of km from São Paulo. I too need support but not as badly. I'm favouriting this ask to see any answers that I can use, because I haven't looked for support yet.
But, even though I can't be there for her in person, memail me for contact info. I have a friend in São Paulo who is a doctor and well aware of trans issues, she may have some resources for your friend.
Per this doctor, the public health system covers everything. It's just that it's budget is very low, so it really sucks. Is understaffed, it lacks resources, it's poorly organized, doctors are underpaid and overworked.... I can understand her getting so frustrated and impatient with it that she feels she's not getting anywhere and time keeps passing.... I have the chance to do all of this in another country, and I'm taking it.
Also, what jaksemas said.
posted by Promethea at 7:06 PM on March 5, 2015 [4 favorites]
Best answer: My friend is vacationing in Spain right now, but she's writing to someone in SP. I'll let you know once she replies.
posted by Promethea at 6:33 PM on March 7, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Promethea at 6:33 PM on March 7, 2015 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Check your mefi mail.
posted by nebulawindphone at 8:32 AM on March 9, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by nebulawindphone at 8:32 AM on March 9, 2015 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: Mission accomplished. She is doing much better, knows for sure (not just intellectually like before) that we're there for her, and maybe just half a glance at a soupcon of hope. :)
posted by Evilspork at 12:14 AM on March 14, 2015 [4 favorites]
posted by Evilspork at 12:14 AM on March 14, 2015 [4 favorites]
Good to hear. My friend's friend finally logged onto facebook...
In the CRT (reference and training centre) DST-AIDS in the Santa Cecilia hospital, there's a centre that works with trans people and they have a support group that meets every Friday at 7 PM, it's open and free, and it's coordinated by a very good psychologist.
posted by Promethea at 6:47 PM on March 14, 2015
In the CRT (reference and training centre) DST-AIDS in the Santa Cecilia hospital, there's a centre that works with trans people and they have a support group that meets every Friday at 7 PM, it's open and free, and it's coordinated by a very good psychologist.
posted by Promethea at 6:47 PM on March 14, 2015
This thread is closed to new comments.
One of the best things you can do, if it's reasonable for you, is to let her know that if she's in crisis again she can call you. Obviously specifics would have to work around times you absolutely cannot answer the phone--work out whatever boundaries make the most sense. And maybe enlist a couple other friends from the chatroom who are in different time zones/have different work schedules so that whatever time she has a crisis moment, she can get on the phone and reach someone who cares about her specifically. It's kind of shocking how much of a difference that can make when you're in the grips of your brain trying to kill you.
posted by feckless fecal fear mongering at 6:41 PM on March 4, 2015 [2 favorites]