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Self-Reported Alcohol Abuse and the Desire to Receive Mental Health Counselling Predict Suicidal Thoughts/Thoughts of Self-Harm among Female Residents of Fort McMurray

Author

Listed:
  • Belinda Agyapong

    (Department of Psychiatry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2B7, Canada)

  • Reham Shalaby

    (Department of Psychiatry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2B7, Canada)

  • Ejemai Eboreime

    (Department of Psychiatry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2B7, Canada)

  • Yifeng Wei

    (Department of Psychiatry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2B7, Canada)

  • Vincent I. O. Agyapong

    (Department of Psychiatry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2B7, Canada
    Department of Psychiatry, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 2E2, Canada)

Abstract

Suicidal ideation and thoughts of self-harm continue to be challenging public health problems. It is presently unknown what the prevalence and correlates of suicidal thoughts and self-harm are in female residents of Fort McMurray, a city that has endured wildfires, flooding, and the COVID-19 pandemic in the last five years. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and correlates of suicidal ideation and thoughts of self-harm among female residents of Fort McMurray. A cross-sectional study using an online survey questionnaire was used to collect sociodemographic and clinical information from the residents of Fort McMurray between 24 April and 2 June 2021. Suicidal ideation and thoughts of self-harm among females were assessed using the ninth question of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, a validated screening tool used to assess depression symptoms. Likely generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), major depressive disorder (MDD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and low resilience were measured using standardized rating scales. Data were analyzed with SPSS version 25 using chi-squared tests and multivariate logistic regression analysis. Among Fort McMurray residents, 249 accessed the online survey, while 186 ultimately completed it, yielding a survey completion rate of 74.7%. Of these, 159 (85%) were females. After controlling for other variables in the regression model, respondents who expressed a desire to receive mental health counselling were more than seven times more likely to report suicidal ideation and thoughts of self-harm compared to the respondents who did not desire to receive mental health counselling (OR: 7.29; 95% CI: 1.19–44.58). Similarly, respondents who reported having abused alcohol in the past year were nearly four times more likely to report suicidal ideation or thoughts of self-harm compared to the respondents who said they had not abused alcohol in the past year (OR: 3.91; 95% CI: 1.05–14.57). A high prevalence of suicidal thoughts and thoughts of self-harm were reported among female residents of Fort McMurray. Timely access to adequate mental health support should be offered to female residents of communities impacted by multiple natural disasters, particularly residents who self-report alcohol abuse or desire to receive mental health counselling.

Suggested Citation

  • Belinda Agyapong & Reham Shalaby & Ejemai Eboreime & Yifeng Wei & Vincent I. O. Agyapong, 2022. "Self-Reported Alcohol Abuse and the Desire to Receive Mental Health Counselling Predict Suicidal Thoughts/Thoughts of Self-Harm among Female Residents of Fort McMurray," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(20), pages 1-14, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:20:p:13620-:d:948471
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Fairlie, Robert W., 2020. "The Impact of COVID-19 on Small Business Owners: The First Three Months after Social-Distancing Restrictions," IZA Discussion Papers 13707, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    2. Vincent I. O. Agyapong & Reham Shalaby & Marianne Hrabok & Wesley Vuong & Jasmine M. Noble & April Gusnowski & Kelly Mrklas & Daniel Li & Mark Snaterse & Shireen Surood & Bo Cao & Xin-Min Li & Russell, 2021. "Mental Health Outreach via Supportive Text Messages during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Improved Mental Health and Reduced Suicidal Ideation after Six Weeks in Subscribers of Text4Hope Compared to a Control," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-13, February.
    3. Belinda Agyapong & Ejemai Eboreime & Reham Shalaby & Hannah Pazderka & Gloria Obuobi-Donkor & Medard K. Adu & Wanying Mao & Folajinmi Oluwasina & Ernest Owusu & Andrew J. Greenshaw & Vincent I. O. Agy, 2021. "Mental Health Impacts of Wildfire, Flooding and COVID-19 on Fort McMurray School Board Staff and Other Employees: A Comparative Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(1), pages 1-17, December.
    4. Robert Fairlie, 2020. "The impact of COVID‐19 on small business owners: Evidence from the first three months after widespread social‐distancing restrictions," Journal of Economics & Management Strategy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(4), pages 727-740, October.
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