Our Health 2022 was a Canada-wide survey run by the Community-Based Research Centre. The survey was open to all Two-Spirit, Indigiqueer, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer, Questioning, Intersex, Asexual and other sexually and gender diverse people (2S/LGBTQQIA+) in Canada. The survey ran online from April to September 2022 and a total of 4, 044 people completed it.

Our Health asked a wide range of questions 2S/LGBTQQIA+ health and well being, but was particularly focused on experiences of COVID-19 as well as chronic health. Data collection was run by the Community-Based Research Centre and Investigaytors cohorts across the country were invited to assist in quantitative data analysis.

One of the things the Alberta Investigaytors were interested in was looking at the impact of supportive relationships on mental health, both in general and during the pandemic. Overall, our team found that supportive relationships were an important protective factor that improved mental health outcomes. Check out our analysis below!

Our team also looked at the social supports available to 2S/LGBTQQIA+ folks in both smaller rural and larger urban settings during COVID-19. Our team was surprised to find that there were actually a lot of similarities in the supports being accessed in both rural and urban environments when we know there are typically less resources available in rural communities. While the survey data doesn’t allow us to say for sure, one of our theories is that since many folks were accessing online resources during the pandemic, some of the barriers faced by rural 2S/LGBTQQIA+ folks may have been reduced. Click through our analysis below to learn more!