Suicidality and protective factors among sexual and gender minority youth and adults in Canada: a cross-sectional, population-based study

BMC Public Health

Research

Beth Jackson¹  Wendy Thompson¹  Gisèle Contreras¹  Li Liu¹  Saiyi Pan¹  Brice Batomen²  Nathaniel J. Pollock³ 

[1] Public Health Agency of Canada, 785 Carling Avenue, K1S 5H4, Ottawa, ON, Canada;Public Health Agency of Canada, 785 Carling Avenue, K1S 5H4, Ottawa, ON, Canada;Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada;Public Health Agency of Canada, 785 Carling Avenue, K1S 5H4, Ottawa, ON, Canada;School of Arctic and Subarctic Studies, Labrador Campus, Memorial University, Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada;

关键词: Suicidal ideation;    Suicide attempt;    LGBTQ2;    Gay;    Lesbian;    Bisexual;    Queer;    Transgender;    Social support;    Health care access;    COVID-19 pandemic;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12889-023-16285-4

 received in 2022-11-15, accepted in 2023-07-10,  发布年份 2023

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundSexual and gender minority populations experience elevated risks for suicidality. This study aimed to assess prevalence and disparities in non-fatal suicidality and potential protective factors related to social support and health care access among sexual and gender minority youth and adults and their heterosexual and cisgender counterparts in Canada. The second objective was to examine changes in the prevalence of suicidal ideation and protective factors during the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsPooled data from the 2015, 2016 and 2019 Canadian Community Health Surveys were used to estimate pre-pandemic prevalence of suicidal ideation, plans and attempts, and protective factors. The study also estimated changes in the prevalence of recent suicidal ideation and protective factors in fall 2020, compared with the same period pre-pandemic.ResultsThe prevalence of suicidality was higher among the sexual minority populations compared with the heterosexual population, and the prevalence was highest among the bisexual population, regardless of sex or age group. The pre-pandemic prevalence of recent suicidal ideation was 14.0% for the bisexual population, 5.2% for the gay/lesbian population, and 2.4% for the heterosexual population. The prevalence of lifetime suicide attempts was 16.6%, 8.6%, and 2.8% respectively. More than 40% of sexual minority populations aged 15–44 years had lifetime suicidal ideation; 64.3% and 36.5% of the gender minority population had lifetime suicidal ideation and suicide attempts. Sexual and gender minority populations had a lower prevalence of protective factors related to social support and health care access. The prevalence of recent suicidal ideation among sexual and gender minority populations increased in fall 2020, and they tended to experience longer wait times for immediate care needed.ConclusionsSexual and gender minority populations had a higher prevalence of suicidality and less social support and health care access compared to the heterosexual and cisgender populations. The pandemic was associated with increased suicidal ideation and limited access to care for these groups. Public health interventions that target modifiable protective factors may help decrease suicidality and reduce health disparities.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© Crown 2023