Grant: Catalyst Grant: Methods and Measures for Gender, Sex and Health

Suicide rates climb during the transition from childhood to adolescence and in Canada it is the second leading cause of death in 15 to 34 year-olds. Consistent with patterns in other Western cultures, Canadian suicide rates are higher in boys and men, whereas self-harm (self-poisoning or self-injury, regardless of intent) is more common in girls and women. This "gender paradox" has yet to be fully explained, but some researchers have theorized that it is due to differential access to care; that is, compared to females, males are less likely to use supports and services in a timely manner. The current project investigates this hypothesis for the gender paradox. It includes using data from the Office of the Chief Coroner for Ontario, individually and anonymously linked to existing provincial health service data. This information will be used to describe the child welfare involvement and health service use (emergency department visits, hospital admissions and physician contacts) of young people in the year before death, including specifically for suicides. This research is a first step to understanding how the use of supports and services may influence the gender paradox in young people. The results will help develop more comprehensive research proposals and be a key resource for health care planning and monitoring. Ultimately, understanding the factors that explain the gender paradox will help develop strategies for suicide and self-harm prevention.