James Donaldson on Mental Health - Trans people are dying of suicide more than the general UK population, data shows

By Alice McCool and Ludovic Parsons Investigation finds that trans people make up 1% of the UK population and 7% of child suicides, but official data is full of holes Content warning: trans suicide, self-harm and death “Greetings freakish lifeforms!” that’s how Zach Klement, a young trans man from near London, would often start his YouTube videos.

Zach’s videos were both funny and sad, full of surreal, tongue-in-cheek humour and Dr Who references.

His pieces to camera, chats with friends and documentaries spanned complex topics such as autism, gender dysphoria, psychiatric hospitals and how schools treat students with health issues.

In the middle of a mental-health crisis?

Put a wig on a piece of gym equipment in the park and talk to it about your feelings, suggests Zach.

Need weights for some exercise?

Stick two tubs of ice cream to either end of a stick – then eat the ice cream afterwards.

In October 2020, he posted his last video, Angry Baking with Zach.

He says he hasn’t been able to make a video for eight months, talks about mental-health stigma and bakes brownies.

The following February, he took his own life at age 21.