With former U.S. Olympian and reality TV star Bruce Jenner set to discuss rumours he is transitioning to a woman, public awareness of transgender issues has never been higher.

Now, the transgender community is hoping that the increased awareness will also shed a light on the long wait times many of them face while seeking medical help for gender transition.

Rachel Clark, an education and training facilitator at The 519 Church Street Community Centre in Toronto, says for those who choose to undergo gender reassignment surgery, it can take years to get the necessary psychiatric approvals.

"Even just to get to the jumping-off point takes two years," she told CTV News Channel Friday. "When you get to the process of affirming your gender identity as transgender, you have to go to CAMH to get that analysis done for you."

The Adult Gender Identity Clinic at CAMH, the Centre for Addictions and Mental Health, is the only site in Ontario for sex-reassignment approvals.

Not only do all transgender Ontarians have to travel to the Toronto clinic for approval, but also those from Newfoundland and Labrador.

Even after approval, Clark says there can be more wait times for the surgery itself. In the meantime, transgender people often struggle with depression and discrimination as they begin making the transition.

"There's a huge amount to employment discrimination, housing discrimination. There's an enormous amount of difficulty getting medical care," she said.

One study, called the Trans PULSE project, found that the rate of suicide and suicidal thoughts among people attempting gender transition was high: 77 per cent had considered taking their own lives and 45 per cent had attempted suicide.

But those rates of depression and suicide ideation fall after transgender people complete the full transition.

That's why many groups such as the American and Canadian psychological associations, as well as the World Health Organization, see gender reassignment surgery as medically necessary.

"We're realizing it's a necessary surgery for trans people, but it's very difficult to get to the point where you can actually go through it," Clark said.

Some choose to have surgeries such as mastectomies on their own, paying out of their own pocket rather than wait to have costs covered by provincial medicare programs.

Others choose to participate in hormone replacement therapy while they wait, though finding a doctor to help can be another struggle. Then, it can take months before effects of the treatment are noticeable.

"It takes time for that to work," said Clark, "It's not an instant, take-a-pill and wake up in the morning and go kind of thing."

While the wait can be long, Clark says it's much easier when trans people have the support of family or friends while they wait for help.

"The best thing you can do is try to get support from the community as much as possible," she said.