(PS2-A10) Sexual Gender Minority and Housing Instability in a Suicidal Adult Inpatient Sample

Prior research shows that sexual and gender minority (SGM) individuals experience housing instability (HI) at significantly higher rates than non-SGM individuals. Additionally, SGM status and HI have been found to be independent risk factors for suicidal thoughts and behaviors. However, the majority of studies have been conducted with youths, and additional research is needed on SGM and HI in adults to better inform public policies and suicide prevention treatments for this age group. The aim of the current study was to describe and compare psychiatric symptoms associated with suicide risk (e.g., depression severity, trauma history) among SGM v. non-SGM and HI v. no-HI adult inpatients. It was predicted that patients identifying as SGM would be more likely to experience HI and that patients who both identify as SGM and experience HI would report more severe symptoms associated with suicide risk than non-SGM patients and patients with no-HI. Participants (n = 82; age M = 32.29, SD = 12.45; 47.6% racial/ethnic minority) completed measures as part of larger suicide prevention treatment trial. All participants were at high risk for suicide based on evidence of either a suicide attempt within a week of admission, or a previous attempt within the past 2 years and active suicidal ideation with plan on admission. SGM status was self-reported. HI was coded based on medical record review (10% double coded; 100% agreement). Participants completed self-report measures of suicidal ideation (ASIQ); psychiatric distress (DASS); suicide-related beliefs (SCS); impulsivity (DERS); and drug and alcohol abuse (DAST and AUDIT). Trauma history and number of previous suicide attempts were assessed using clinical interviews (DIAMOND and C-SSRS, respectively). There were 4 comparison groups: SGM and HI (n=7), SGM and no-HI (n=25), non-SGM and HI (n=22), non-SGM and no-HI (n=28). Results indicated that, contrary to our hypothesis, HI was more common for patients in the non-SGM group (44.0%) than in the SGM group (21.9%) [X²(1) = 4.18, p = .041]. We conducted a series of 2 (SGM v. non-SGM) x 2 (HI v. no-HI) ANOVAs with clinical measures as dependent variables. Results showed a significant main effect of SGM status on alcohol use [F(1, 78) = 8.35, p = .005], with non-SGM patients reporting higher AUDIT scores. A significant main effect of HI status on drug use [F(1, 78) = 10.72, p = .002] was also found, with patients experiencing HI reporting higher DAST scores. There were no significant main or interactive effects between SGM and HI status on any of the other clinical measures. Logistic regression was used to analyze the relationship between SGM status, HI status, and trauma history. Results indicated that patients experiencing HI were 8.4 times more likely to have a trauma history than were those with no-HI (p = .003, 95% CI [2.022, 35.262]). These preliminary findings suggest that in an adult suicidal inpatient population, certain clinical characteristics (i.e., trauma history; substance use), are related to HI status and SGM status, independently. These associations may suggest potential treatment targets and should be given careful consideration in policy and program development. Data collection for this study is ongoing and findings from the larger sample will be presented.