SYDNEY, N.S. — Help is available for individuals who are transgender or in the process of transitioning, Daniel Sheppard, prideHealth navigator for Nova Scotia Health Authority, said they are a resource for anyone who is transitioning or who have had difficult experiences in the past or are maybe new in town and don’t know where to go. “We are here for the LGBTIQ community and their allies, whoever wants to learn a little more.” prideHealth is an organization put together by the NSHA to help members of the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, two-spirited, intersex, queer and questioning community feel included, access health care safely and effectively. Sheppard said 95 per cent of what they do is with trans health. “It can be difficult at times to navigate the system and to find people who can do their assessments and help coordinate funding and finding practitioners who will follow them through their transition,” he said. “You need a physician that can follow you along your route and that can be challenging at times.” prideHealth includes a coordinator that is involved in teaching organizations and different areas in hospitals, different resources in the community how to create safe spaces. As a navigator, Sheppard said he is the point of contact for people who have had negative experiences with healthcare and don’t really know where to go, mainly in regard to transcare. “They can contact me and I can put them in contact with the right people for social work, psychology or psychiatry, if necessary. Right down to safe networks, youth groups and that sort of thing.” At prideHealth, Sheppard said they work with the IWK in Halifax as well and see all kinds of patients and a variety of ages. “We have 60- to 70 year-old people emailing us looking for information to know about some resources in their community.” Sheppard said when a parent has a child going through transitioning, steps he advises them to take include meetings with school teachers, sports coaches and/or a guidance counsellor. “The parent should express support for the child and a desire to coordinate support of the school to create a safe environment for the child.” Sheppard said 95 per cent of what they do is with trans health. “It can be difficult at times to navigate the system and to find people who can do their assessments and help coordinate funding and finding practitioners who will follow them through their transition,” he said. “You need a physician that can follow you along your route and that can be challenging at times.” prideHealth includes a coordinator that is involved in teaching organizations and different areas in hospitals, different resources in the community how to create safe spaces. As a navigator, Sheppard said he is the point of contact for people who have had negative experiences with healthcare and don’t really know where to go, mainly in regard to transcare. “They can contact me and I can put them in contact with the right people for social work, psychology or psychiatry, if necessary. Right down to safe networks, youth groups and that sort of thing.” At prideHealth, Sheppard said they work with the IWK in Halifax as well and see all kinds of patients and a variety of ages. “We have 60- to 70 year-old people emailing us looking for information to know about some resources in their community.” Sheppard said when a parent has a child going through transitioning, steps he advises them to take include meetings with school teachers, sports coaches and/or a guidance counsellor. “The parent should express support for the child and a desire to coordinate support of the school to create a safe environment for the child.” Sheppard said teen years is a time when many people aren’t sure of their identity...
