109 Saskatchewan Federation of Police Officers Rural and remote communities and suicide prevention Suicide rates are higher in Canada’s rural areas (Hirsch & Cukrowicz, 2014; Barry et al., 2020). People there also experience poorer health, lower life expectancy, and are less likely to have their healthcare needs met (Eckert et al., 2004). Around 20% of Canada’s people live in rural areas, which are defined as having populations under 1,000 and fewer than 400 inhabitants per square kilometre (Statistics Canada, 2016). While there is no universal definition of “remoteness,” Statistics Canada’s Remoteness Index defines remote communities by taking into account their size and proximity to urban centres (Subedi et al., 2020). Why are people in rural and remote communities at risk? Certain factors can place some people at a higher risk for suicide than others, and when multiple risk factors outweigh those that build resiliency, the likelihood that a person may think about suicide increases (Sharam et al., 2021). Issues of confidentiality People living in rural and remote communities may be reluctant to seek help when it relates to their mental health, as they may have concerns about confidentiality in smaller rural settings, where a person’s neighbour could also be their counsellor. Easy access to firearms Gun ownership is far more prevalent in rural areas compared to urban areas, and firearms are the most lethal suicide method (Arnautovska et al., 2014; Morgan et al., 2016; Jones-Bitton et al., 2020). Isolation Rural and remote communities can be small and tight knit but also sparsely populated, which means fewer resources that can offer support and connection. The same wide-open spaces that many people enjoy may contribute to feelings of isolation or disconnection, depending on the circumstances. People feeling isolated or depressed need to know they don’t have to feel that way. Support is available. Access to mental health services Smaller communities typically have fewer mental health professionals or limited access to other infrastructure like recovery centres and psychiatric wards. They may also have limited access to high-speed internet which is a barrier to accessing virtual services (Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, 2019). Services delivered by phone can be a helpful alternative. Being seen as less of a priority Rural and remote communities may receive fewer resources from governments for mental health services. Many people feel that not enough has been done at the government level to acknowledge these populations as a priority for these services. Rugged individualism People living in rural settings may have been socialized to be independent and self-reliant. These traits could possibly make some people reluctant to seek help, believing that their problems are their own to fix.Yet this is a tendency that may lead to negative coping mechanisms and ultimately result in suicide (Creighton et al., 2017; Hirsch & Cukrowicz, 2014). Rural priority populations As outlined below, certain rural and remote populations may be more likely to consider suicide due to additional factors not experienced by others. Governments need to address the mental and physical health needs of these priority populations, and make services for them accessible, i.e., easy to get to, easy to find, confidential, and inexpensive. People who work with these populations should also be trained in suicide prevention. Older adults Older adults, especially men, have high rates of suicide in rural areas (and in general).They are also more likely to own firearms than those living in urban areas, something (continued)
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