Last week was Transgender Awareness Week, with November 20th marking Transgender Day of Remembrance, where advocates of the global transgender community raised awareness of the transgender community through education, remembrance events and activities. 

I thought I'd do my own little bit of awareness-raising to show the hardships that some people in that trans community go through every day.

In high schools across the country, not much is known about the term 'transgender'. Many young people who consider themselves trans may face bullying or much worse, if they're openly trans. The bullying is caused by ignorance; the fact that hardly anyone knows what being transgender means. Some people see someone different to what society classes as normal and picks on them for it, calls them names, maybe even resorts to physical violence.

Sadly, many transgender people are shunned by their families for coming out as transgender. They are the exact same person as they always were; only they feel they're a different gender. Some families or family members cut off ties completely, leaving the person who has just taken the bravest step of all, all alone. Some family members just ignore the fact that the person is transgender, telling them it's just a phase and to act 'like normal people'. Some people have been told by family members 'when will you get it out of your head that you're not a man?' Well, it is in my head, it's called gender dysphoria.

These factors are what may drive a transgender person into depression. They might feel alone, they might feel that no one understands them and that may lead to depression, self-harm, isolation or worse.

As many as 48% of transgender people say they've attempted suicide (according to the Trans Mental Health Study conducted in Scotland in 2012). This even includes some close friends of mine.

It's saddening to think that in this day and age, we can land the Rosetta spacecraft on a comet, but the LGBTQIA community is still discriminated against.

A fellow transgender blogger, who documented her journey from 2010 to 2012 for the Guardian said: "I have suicidal thoughts every day, even now. A lot of that is to do with the scars of childhood, feeling I lost my youth to this, things I wasn't able to do because of the discrimination I experienced and because of the trenchant mental health problems that came with it. I've found a way of dealing with this. But I've been pretty close to the edge several times, and pretty much constantly during my teens, when I didn't feel I could talk to anyone about it. I found a way back. And I have a lot of support. But not everyone has that."

I am extremely lucky that I have the support of my family and my friends behind me as I continue my journey. Everyone has been very understanding when I explain to them what I'm going through and I feel sick to my stomach when I hear of a transgender person being wronged that way. Do vulnerable people really have to attempt suicide in order to get help or be understood by the people around them that it's not in fact a 'phase'?

How could a family member turn their back on someone they're supposed to love just because of the tiny detail that they identify as trans? Grow up. Society is more open now than ever before and hopefully will become more so to prevent these events from happening.

There are many support groups out there, not just for transgender people, but for all the LGBTQIA community like the LGBT Youth Scotland group I attend every week in Glasgow. There are even helplines out there for advice and support.

If you feel you or someone you know needs advice or support then please seek help. We don't want you to be another statistic.

Support groups:

Mermaids: 020 8123 4819

www.mermaidsuk.org.uk - Telephone information and listening service for children and teenagers with gender identity issues and their families.

LGBT Helpline Scotland: 0300 123 2523

www.lgbt-helpline-scotland.org.uk -  Open every Tuesday and Wednesday from 12-9pm. Information and emotional support for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people and their families, friends and supporters across Scotland.

Gender Trust: 01527 894838

www.gendertrust.org.uk - Helpline and other services for people who are transsexual, gender dysphoric or transgenderist. Befriending with a confidential contact system for members. Information on specialist help including counselling, psychotherapy and psychiatrists.

HOPELineUK: 0800 068 41 41

SMS: 07786 209697

www.papyrus-uk.org - specialist telephone service staffed by trained professionals who give non-judgemental support, practical advice and information to; Children, teenagers and young people up to the age of 35 who are worried about how they are feeling or anyone who is concerned about a young person.