Help-seeking behavior among adults who attempted or died by suicide in Ontario, Canada

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Rebecca Barry - , University of Toronto (Author)
  • Jürgen Rehm - , Chair of Behavioral Epidemiology, University of Toronto, TUD Dresden University of Technology, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Author)
  • Claire de Oliveira - , University of Toronto, University of York (Author)
  • Peter Gozdyra - , Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences (Author)
  • Simon Chen - , Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences (Author)
  • Paul Kurdyak - , University of Toronto, Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences (Author)

Abstract

Introduction: This study aims to determine the relationship between rurality and help-seeking behavior prior to a suicide or suicide attempt. Methods: Data from 2007 to 2017 were obtained from administrative databases held at ICES, which capture all hospital, emergency department (ED), and general practitioner (GP) visits across Ontario. Rurality was defined using the Rurality Index of Ontario scores. Help-seeking was based on accessing health services 1 year prior to the event. Results: Among those who died by suicide (N = 9848), those living in rural areas were less likely to seek help from a psychiatrist (rural males: AOR = 0.42, 95% CI = 0.31–0.57; rural females: AOR = 0.46, 95% CI = 0.29–0.97) compared with those living in urban areas. We found a similar association among those who attempted suicide (N = 82,480) (rural males: AOR = 0.49, 95% CI = 0.43–0.56; rural females: AOR = 0.51, 95% CI = 0.46–0.57). Rural males and females were more likely to seek care from an ED for mental health reasons compared with urban males and females. Conclusions: Among people who died by suicide, those living in rural areas are generally less likely to access psychiatrists and GPs and more likely to access EDs, suggesting that people living in rural areas may have less access to care than their urban counterparts.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)54-63
Number of pages10
JournalSuicide and Life-Threatening Behavior
Volume53
Issue number1
Publication statusPublished - Feb 2023
Peer-reviewedYes

Keywords

Sustainable Development Goals

Keywords

  • help-seeking, rurality, suicide, suicide attempt