番茄社区

Thank you to UVic's Faculty of Social Sciences and Lansdowne for supporting this talk.

Transgender and gender-diverse youth are disproportionately represented among youth experiencing homelessness across North America. Transgender youth face unique challenges accessing safe, inclusive, and stable housing options contributing to mental health issues and overall health disparities. Dr. Abramovich will explore the intersection of gender identity, homelessness, and health outcomes among transgender youth and young adults. This presentation will foster a deeper understanding of the barriers and challenges experienced by transgender youth navigating housing and healthcare systems. Dr. Abramovich will discuss the main pathways into homelessness among transgender youth, including family rejection, discrimination, and lack of supportive resources. He will also examine the health outcomes among transgender youth experiencing homelessness and housing instability, highlighting the high rates of mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, and suicidality. Based on his research as Canada Research Chair in 2SLGBTQ+ Youth Homelessness and Mental Health, Dr. Abramovich will share evidence-informed recommendations for targeted interventions and policies that create safe, inclusive, and affirming environments and address the needs of transgender youth experiencing homelessness.

Dr. Alex Abramovich (he/him) is a Senior Scientist at the Institute for Mental Health Policy Research at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), and an Associate Professor at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto. Dr. Abramovich holds a Canada Research Chair in 2SLGBTQ+ Youth Homelessness and Mental Health. He has been addressing the issue of 2SLGBTQ+ youth homelessness for over 15 years. Dr. Abramovich is an award winning and internationally recognized leader in 2SLGBTQ+ health and homelessness. The overarching aim of his program of research is to investigate the health and social inequities experienced by 2SLGBTQ+ individuals, with a focus on understanding and improving the health and service needs of 2SLGBTQ+ youth and young adults. Dr. Abramovich’s research has led to groundbreaking practice and policy reform, including the launch of Canada’s first dedicated transitional housing program for 2SLGBTQ+ youth. He has worked closely with all levels of government to develop policies and strategies that address the needs of 2SLGBTQ+ youth and young adults experiencing homelessness and is committed to research that successfully and ethically engages marginalized populations.