Résumé
Suicide is the second leading cause of death among American varsity student-athletes, highlighting the urgent need to understand mental health challenges in this population. However, nearly all existing research on suicidality in student-athletes has been conducted in the United States, leaving a critical knowledge gap about the experiences of their Canadian counterparts. Given that suicide remains a leading and potentially preventable cause of death among student-athletes, this study aimed to answer: What are the characteristics of Canadian USPORTS athletes who report high levels of suicidal ideation? Canadian student-athletes who scored ≥ 7 on the SBQ-R (N=103) were drawn from the Spring 2022 ACHA’s NCHA survey. A k-means cluster analysis identified two distinct groups. Group 1 was characterized by higher levels of psychological distress and loneliness, and included a greater proportion of non-heterosexual individuals. Group 2 exhibited a similar but less severe pattern and included more heterosexual individuals. These findings underscore the complex interplay of psychological and social factors contributing to suicidality among Canadian student-athletes. In particular, student-athletes lacking protective factors like social support and effective stress management may be at elevated risk for serious suicidal ideation, particularly those navigating stress related to sexual orientation. Identifying these patterns supports early risk detection for coaches, athletic directors and sport organizations. Targeted prevention strategies, such as expanding access to counselling services, stress management workshops, mindfulness training, and peer support programs, can help foster a climate of resilience and mental health awareness within varsity sport.
