Predictors of rural and urban youth suicidal ideation by gender: a case for targeted approaches to prevention

Abstract

Depressive symptoms and participation in health-harming behaviours are key risk factors for youth suicidal ideation, while self-esteem and perceived social support are protective factors. The purpose of the present article is to highlight differing patterns of these risk and protective factors for youth suicidal ideation by gender, as well as by rural and urban communities. Through structural equation modelling, the presence of differing patterns of risk and protective factors for youth suicidal ideation potentially supports the case for targeted approaches to prevention based on gender and geographic region.

Keywords:

• youth
• suicidal ideation
• prevention
• rural

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge the Ontario Centre of Excellence for Child & Youth Mental Health, the Centre of Excellence for Youth Engagement and Youth Net/Réseau Ado. We would also like to thank the schools that participated in this research.

Additional information

Funding

The authors would like to acknowledge the Canadian Institutes of Health Research for providing a Canada Graduate Scholarship and the Ontario Mental Health Foundation for a Research Project Grant.