Centre for Mental Health is deeply concerned by the EHRC Code of Practice published by the Government yesterday. First and foremost, we want to express our solidarity with trans and non-binary people in the UK who we know are feeling fear, worry and distress right now.
Despite raising our concerns with the Government last year, alongside many other mental health organisations, we fear the final Code will simply create more confusion and complexity, and could cause harm to trans and non-binary people.
We call on any provider of services to take a calm, considered and slow approach to implementing this new Code, if it comes into force. It is vital that they genuinely consider whether the probable harms caused to trans and non-binary people are proportionate, and think through carefully about the services they can and should continue to provide to them.
We will be contacting the Government, EHRC and parliamentarians about our concerns and to seek clarity on how the Code will be implemented to mitigate the harms posed to trans and non-binary people. And we will work alongside organisations that support trans and non-binary equality to support their efforts to protect the health and human rights of trans and non-binary people in the UK.
Sources of support
If you, or someone you know, is struggling with today’s news, please reach out to a mental health helpline that can listen and offer support:
Trans specific
Mindline Trans – 0300 330 5468
TRUK Listens – 0800 009 6640
LGBT+ specific
LGBT Foundation Helpline – 0345 3 30 30 30
England and UK-wide: Switchboard – 0800 0119 100
Northern Ireland: LGBTQI+ Switchboard – 0808 8000 390
Scotland: LGBT Helpline Scotland – 0800 464 7000
Wales: LGBT+ Cymru Helpline – 0800 917 9996
