Is the association between sexual minority status and suicide-related behaviours modified by rurality? A discrete-time survival analysis using longitudinal health administrative data

Abstract

Rural sexual minorities may experience unique stressors due to stigma and a lack of sexual minority-specific social and health services. We examine whether rural and sexual minority status are associated with suicide-related behaviour (SRB) risks, using a nationally representative survey linked to administrative health data of Ontario individuals from 2007-2017. Our study provides evidence that rural and sexual minority status both independently contribute to an elevated likelihood of SRB; however, sexual orientation did not appear to modify the SRB risk by rurality. Evaluations of interventions to reduce SRB in both rural and sexual minority populations are required.