Voda Launches New Service To Help Trans and Non-binary Communities Cope with Gender Dysphoria
April 2, 2023Voda, the LGBTQ+ mental wellness app that provides digital mental wellness programmes tailored to diverse sexuality, gender and relationship needs, has launched a new service to help the trans and non-binary community cope with gender dysphoria.
Image credit: Voda
The latest offering, Coping with Gender Dysphoria, comes at a crucial time when mental health is a growing concern across the U.K., particularly for trans individuals. Statistics from Stonewall’s latest LGBT Report reveal that 52% of LGBTQ+ people have experienced depression in the last year, and for anxiety, this figure rises to 61%. In today’s political climate, the trans community is facing even greater levels of discrimination and violence, with transgender people experiencing the greatest rise in hate crimes in 2022, up 56% from the previous year, according to the UK’s Home Office.
Unfortunately, existing mental health solutions for the trans community often fall short. Stonewall statistics reveal that around 32% of trans people have reported unequal treatment from healthcare staff In the NHS because of their trans identity, and 20% of trans people have been pressured to suppress their gender identity when accessing healthcare services. Private therapy can be an alternative, but is prohibitively expensive.
The Tavistock gender clinic’s closure this spring has also left more than 7,500 young people struggling with gender incongruence, further exacerbating this crisis. Voda’s latest offering, “Coping with Gender Dysphoria”, has been designed by a panel of leading LGBTQ+ psychotherapists and is aimed at helping trans and non-binary individuals manage the symptoms associated with gender dysphoria.
"Gender dysphoria is a complex and often challenging experience for many trans and non-binary individuals," shared Chris Sheridan (they/them), Voda’s Lead Psychotherapist. "In light of this political climate, we wanted to create a free programme that would give people the tools to better understand and manage their dysphoria.”
Chris Sheridan (they/them), Voda’s Lead Psychotherapist. Image credit: Voda
The offering has been built on an evidence-based approach to mental wellbeing, tapping into mindfulness, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) techniques. Voda's proprietary digital programmes are designed with a team of seven BACP-accredited psychotherapist partners, who identify across the spectrum of sexuality, gender, and ethnicity.
"We started Voda because we all had our own journey dealing with our mental health struggles stemming from our queer identities." explained Jaron Soh (he/him), Voda’s Co-founder & CEO. "The launch of “Coping with Gender Dysphoria” programme is one way we seek to help our fellow trans friends cope with the challenges of living in a cis-heteronormative society.”
As well as Soh and Sheridan, Voda's other core team members includes Kris Jack (he/him), Co-founder & CTO. Soh has eight years of experience across product and growth and is a mental health first aider. Jack holds a PhD in Computer Science and is passionate about improving LGBTQ+ mental health through technology. Sheridan is a renowned non-binary trans psychotherapist and thought leader in Gender, Sexual, and Relationship Diversity (GSRD).
Voda’s mission is to be the leading provider of LGBTQ+ digital mental healthcare by providing self-guided therapy, journaling tools, and tailored pathways to help users cope with the challenges of living in a cis-heteronormative society. The Voda app is available on both iOS and Android platforms. Click here to find out more.
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