Seek support as a trans person or loved one in Sweden

Transformering provides support and information to trans people, people with trans experience and people who are questioning their gender identity or gender expression. We offer support to people regardless of age. We also offer support to loved ones, professionals and non-profit organisations. We work in a supportive and advisory capacity, but not treating or therapeutically. Contact with us cannot therefore replace professional contact. But you are welcome to contact us and ask where you can find professional support.

Keep in mind that it may take some time to get a response from us, so if you feel very unwell and need to talk to someone as soon as possible, it is good to also contact other support services. Here are some tips on where to go while waiting for a response from us.

If it is urgent

SOS Alarm, 112: Always call 112 if it is urgent. If you have thoughts about taking your own life or seriously harming yourself, or have made plans to take your own life or seriously harm yourself, it's urgent. You need help quickly. You who know that someone else has such thoughts or plans can also call 112. The same applies if you become aware of an ongoing suicide attempt. The SOS operators speak Swedish or English. There is the possibility of an interpreter for other languages if needed.

You can also always contact a psychiatric emergency department if you feel very unwell or are thinking about harming yourself. At 1177.se you can search for psychiatric emergency departments for children and young people and for adults as well as for other types of support. You can also call telephone number 1177 for help on where to turn. The healthcare advice on 1177 is open 24 hours a day. The nurses who work with the telephone counseling speak Swedish and English.

Support via phone, chat and email

Sometimes it can feel easier to talk without seeing each other. There is a lot of support via phone, chat and email. Here you can talk to people who are used to listening and giving advice. You can also be anonymous. See the respective organisation’s website for opening hours and more information.

• Jourhavande medmänniska: support by phone and via chat.
• Jourhavande prästcan be reached via 112 for phone calls. Also has chat and email.
• The Church's SOS Regnbågslinjen: Call support-line via phone and digital letters, for LGBTQI people, relatives and allies. The volunteers who answer are LGBTQI people themselves.
• MIND's suicide line - chat, email and telephone in case of suicidal thoughts. Their number is 90101.
• MIND's chat Livslinjen , if you are young and want to chat with an adult volunteer about feelings, thoughts and when life feels difficult.
• MIND's elderly line provides support via telephone, especially for those who are older and need to talk to someone.
• BRIS – counseling support via chat, email and telephone for you under 18 years of age. Telephone 116 111. It is also possible to book a telephone conversation with a BRIS counselorand choose to have the conversation in Arabic or English.
• Ungasjourer.se collects information about emergency services in Sweden for children, youth and young adults. There are several trans services. Many girls' emergency services also have trans competence. Furthermore, there are several youth emergency services, for young people regardless of gender. You can contact which service you want, regardless of where in the country you live.

Specific support for trans people and LGBTQI people

• Transsamman's counselling centre: Support through video calls or chat, for transgender people, people with trans experience or who are thinking about their gender identity and who are no more than 26 years old. Transammans is an association for trans people and their relatives.
• Stödlinjen för transpersonerprovides telephone support to adult transgender people who have been victims of intimate partner violence or sexual abuse.
• RFSL Stödmottagning , for LGBTQI people who have been subjected to harassment, threats and violence. It can be both in a close relationship or by an unknown perpetrator. Support via email, phone, video call or physical meeting.
• Somaya is a support center for women and LGBTQI people with a foreign background who are exposed to violence in a close relationship and/or live in an honor-related context. You can receive support in several different languages.
• Queer Youth Sweden’s chat, for people between 13 and 20 years old who are LGBTQI or questioning their sexual orientation and/or gender identity. You can chat with a counselor at Queer Youth Sweden about anything you’re thinking about, big or small, difficult or fun. Support via chat.

Support through healthcare

• 1177.se and phone number 1177 – for questions about healthcare, the nearest healthcare clinic or the like. The nurses who work with the telephone counseling speak Swedish and English.

Support for those who are loved ones or important adults

• BRIS adult phone. If you need support and advice regarding matters concerning persons under 18 years of age, you can contact the BRIS adult telephone line. On some days you can also get support in Arabic and Ukrainian.
• BRIS also has a special support line for those who are involved in sports. Special competence exists to provide support to those who encounter children with trauma or experience of immigration.
• MIND's föräldralinje: If you are worried about a child under 18, or an adult child, you can call Mind's parent line (also for other relatives). The phone number is 020-85 20 00.

Other actors to contact for support

You can also contact:

• General practitioner/care center
• General psychiatry (both adult and BUP)
• Private practicing psychotherapists, therapists and psychologists
• RFSL's counsellors (found in several RFSL branches around the country). All support via RFSL and Queer Youth Sweden is listed here .
• LGBTQI-certified call centres or associations that that have LGBTQI competence. RFSL Utbildning has a list of certified operations here . Several of Sweden's regions have their own LGBTQ training courses for their businesses. They are often called LGBTQ diplomas.
• Youth centres
• Pupil or student health
• Occupational health care
• If you are in contact with the gender-affirming care you can talk to your assessor about your need for additional support. They can also help in mediating contact.