The parents of a trans woman who committed suicide last year have publicly said their daughter felt “marginalised and fobbed off” by mental health services and was not given the proper care that could have prevented her death. Alexandra Greenway, 23, was found dead in her Bristol flat in May 2019 a month before a previous suicide attempt. Although she was detained after her attempt in April, there were no beds available in local hospitals. Her mother, Jacqueline Greenway, told The Guardian mental health professionals did not acknowledge Alexandra’s experiences as a trans woman after “a long and difficult road in achieving gender reassignment surgery.”
She also said her daughter was on a waiting list for talking therapy, but the lack of mental health services meant treatment was not accessible. She said: “There are too many people waiting for CBT [cognitive behavioural therapy]. They just didn’t have the capacity. Alexandra didn’t see any signs of the CBT materialising, she couldn’t wait any longer, that’s why we believe she took her own life. All services appeared to be under too much pressure.”
Jacqueline said their family has been unable to process their ‘grief and frustration’ after the death that they believe could have been prevented. Selen Cavcav, a senior caseworker at the charity Inquest, which has supported the Greenway family, said: “Alexandra was a young woman trying to access suitable therapy and support passed from pillar to post. With oversubscribed, disconnected and under-supported mental health services, she simply did not get help the help she needed.” Studies show the trans community experience higher rates of mental health issues compared cisgender people – which is often attributed to widespread discrimination – and like Greenway, many are unable to access gender-affirming healthcare.
