Citation

Pritchard TR, Buckle JL, Thomassin K, Lewis SP. PLoS One 2024; 19(8): e0306929.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2024, Public Library of Science)

DOI

10.1371/journal.pone.0306929

PMID

39133696

PMCID

PMC11318929

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Residents of rural regions may have higher and unique suicide risks. Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) is a Canadian province replete with rural regions. Despite an abundance of rural suicide research, heterogeneity in rural regions may preclude amalgamating findings to inform prevention efforts. Thus, exploring the unique needs of NL is needed. Importantly, health care providers (HCP) may afford unique perspectives on the suicide-related needs or concerns of rural life. We asked HCPs of residents of rural NL their perceived suicide risk factors, concerns, and needs for rural NL.

METHOD: Twelve HCPs of rural residents of NL completed virtual semi-structured interviews. Interviews were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis [13,14].

RESULTS: HCPs noted individual, psychological, social, and practical factors linked to rural-suicide risk and subsequent needs.

FINDINGS highlight the unique challenges of residing and providing health care in rural NL and inform prevention and intervention efforts.

Language: en

Keywords

Humans; Risk Factors; Adult; Female; Male; Middle Aged; Qualitative Research; *Suicide/psychology/statistics & numerical data; *Health Personnel/psychology; *Rural Population; Newfoundland and Labrador/epidemiology