Though much research on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has focused on urban areas, COVID-19 impacted rural and remote communities in different ways. Some rural and remote communities experienced less disruption due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as community members were potentially able to isolate more easily and had less overall contact with people. However, rural and remote communities are often more poorly equipped in terms of health care equipment, infrastructure, and personnel, and some communities rely on doctors and nurses commuting from urban areas. Many do not have hospitals, and those that do have hospitals rarely have the facilities (such as intensive care units) required to treat severe COVID-19 cases. Additionally, some rural and remote communities were unable to fully utilize virtual care and telehealth options, or adopt remote working, due to the lack or unreliability of high-speed Internet. Existing research has shown that COVID-19 also decreased mental health and overall life satisfaction in rural communities; however, there is little research documenting the effect of the pandemic on 2S/LGBTQQIA+ individuals living in rural areas. This report presents findings related to the health and wellbeing of 2S/LGBTQQIA+ individuals living in rural areas during the COVID-19 pandemic.
url="https://assets.nationbuilder.com/cbrc/pages/5004/attachments/original/1743708996/RuralandRemote_Ourhealth_EN.pdf?1743708996
