Two-Spirit, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (2SGBTQ) men's suicidality in Canada: A Scoping Review.

Abstract

Suicide is a leading cause of death in Canada, with men being three times more likely to die from suicide compared with the rest of the population. Among Canadian men, those who are Two-Spirit, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (2SGBTQ) are disproportionately impacted by suicidality. Drawing on this growing public health crisis, this current scoping review focuses on Canadian-based 2SGBTQ men to address the research question: What is known about Canadian-based Two-Spirit, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (2SGBTQ) men's experiences with suicidality? Keywords related to "2SGBTQ men" and "suicidality" were searched across five bibliographic databases to derive 25 articles for analysis. Three thematic findings were generated: (a) Methodological Approaches, (b) Social Identities and Stigma, and (c) Psychosocial Health Issues. First, we trace how the study designs, data sources, and sampling methods used in research influence how we know about 2SGBTQ men's suicidality. Second, we report on anti-gay, anti-trans, and HIV stigma as characterizing the diverse associations between 2SGBTQ men's multiple social identities and their suicidality risk. Third, we detail how psychosocial health issues, including mental illness, financial precarity, and substance use, exacerbate social stresses and related risks of suicidality for 2SGBTQ men. These findings map understandings about how suicide risk diversely manifests among subgroups of Canadian-based 2SGBTQ men and interconnections between 2SGBTQ men's social identities, stigma, and their psychosocial health issues. We draw on these learnings to recommend future research priorities regarding 2SGBTQ men's suicidality, alongside opportunities to advance knowledge to inform targeted suicide prevention interventions.