Mental Health AWARENESS Month with trans can work, inc!
Trans Can Work is excited to announce a new Mental Health Navigation program that is now an active part of the TCW mission. At its core, TCW aims to assist transgender and gender diverse communities through workforce development programming. With the help of Employment Navigators, TCW works one-on-one with TGI folks to prepare them for job searching, resume building, and interview preparation. Now, through a California Department of Public Health grant, we are expanding our services to include mental health navigation support.
Trans and gender diverse folks often have higher rates of mental health concerns, including anxiety, depression, substance use, and thoughts of suicide. The process of finding, changing, or leaving a job can also create many stressors for the individual. Many concerns can arise such as financial needs, maintaining stable housing, access to transportation, stable internet or owning a computer. Furthermore, mental health can be significantly impacted when transitioning between jobs. Unemployment can come with feelings of anxiety and depression. For example, worrying that you may never find a stable job, feeling worthless, lack of purpose or lack of belonging without a workplace.
Finding a new job can quickly become overwhelming when mental health concerns begin to appear. Symptoms like lack of motivation, fatigue, and difficulty concentrating can make even basic tasks feel impossible. Through the new Mental Health Navigation program, job-seekers can work with the Mental Health Navigator, Christine Fuston, PhD, to get connected to a therapist.
The mission of the Mental Health Navigation program is to connect TGI clients to mental healthcare via a voucher system. Those interested can complete the interest form online at transcanwork.org. From there, the Mental Health Navigator will meet one-on-one with new clients to assess their current needs and discuss potential therapy providers. Our aim is to help clients feel supported in their mental health while navigating their employment journey.
Please visit transcanwork.org/donate to help support our mission with a donation.
Christine Fuston, PhD (they/them) is a licensed psychologist who’s focused their career on LGBTQ+ activism and support. They received their PhD in Counseling Psychology from Oklahoma State University and are proud to be a McNair Alumna.