Suicide prevention in Aboriginal Youth in Canada

In Canada, the suicide rate in the Aboriginal and First Nation populations is significantly higher than the national average. It has been determined that cultural and religious beliefs are the main causes of suicide, particularly in young people. This study focuses on the mental health of Aboriginal and First Nations people in Canadian communities and how their cultural and spiritual beliefs might be incorporated into European forms of treatment because this occurrence is consistent with the anthropology of well-being.

Preventing Suicide in Canadian Aboriginal Kids

The main emphasis will be on preventing suicide in Canadian Aboriginal kids. The topic is significant to the anthropology of well-being which examines ways in which health and well-being are influenced by biological, environmental and social cultural forces. It explores how culture influences the way medicine is practiced, the experiences of illness and the process of healing for individuals. Anthropology of wellbeing is concerned with how self, and the body is perceived. Also, the ways in which cultural values shape and are shaped by Western medicine, healing traditions and non-western medicines.

Bibliography

Marika, M. & Claire, C. (2015). Structural and Cultural Factors in Suicide Prevention: The Contrast between Mainstream and Inuit Approaches to Understanding and Preventing Suicide, Journal of Social Work Practice, 29 (3), 321-338.

This article provides a comparison of approaches used understand and prevent suicide. Morris and Crooks (2015) focus on structural and cultural factors in mainstream suicide prevention approaches in the mainstream society and those in the Inuit communities. The author use a documentary analysis approach to discuss the Inuit knowledge about suicide prevention which points to the significance of the cultural and structural factors in curbing suicide among the Aboriginal populations. The article reports that the Inuits believe that suicide in any group is caused by rapid colonization and its effects. Again, they believe that suicide and its prevention cannot be viewed separately from the ensuing socio-economic conditions. At the same time, to the Inuit, their mental well-being is attached to their cultural pride.

To be able to comprehend suicide (causes and prevention) among the Inuit one must have an understanding of the cultural and structural factors involved. This article is relevant to the topic of suicide prevention among the aboriginal youth in Canada because it contains a well-documented information of the Inuit understanding of suicide. To adequately deal with this problem, one has to have a culturally competent view of it. This will help in coming up with culturally-congruent strategies of awareness creation and prevention.

Dunn, E. R. (2013). The Influence of Belief in a positive afterlife on youth suicide in the Northern Ontario First Nation. Dissertation, Walden University.

Dunn (2013) reports antecedents on three major factors contributing to the high suicide rates among the First Nation youths of Northern Ontario. The three factors include: spiritual beliefs about the afterlife; mental health issues like rejection, loneliness, and depression among others; and alcohol use and abuse. The author found out that, spiritual belief after the afterlife connected the other two causes – alcohol use and abuse, and mental health issues – in that, when the youths felt overwhelmed they thought about where they will go and those they will be united with in the afterlife. They then start suicide ideation and some eventually commit suicide.

The findings of this research are important especially to my topic because, they do not only identify important causes of suicide, but it also explains the cultural and religious beliefs involved. Understanding the causes, as earlier mentioned, will guide decision making, on the coming up with suicide prevention programs.

Tousignant, M., Vitenti, L. & Morin, N. (2013). Aboriginal youth suicide prevention in Quebec: the contribution of public policy for prevention. International Journal of Law and Psychiatry. 36, 399-405.

The authors of this article bring in an important perspective in the issue of suicides among the Aboriginals\First Nations in Canada. With a wealth of evidence (six-year field study in two aboriginal groups), the authors propose three areas of social policy that are important in preventing suicide among this group. Administration of justice, housing, and youth protection are three issues policy areas that should be dealt to curb suicide among the aboriginal youth. The authors argue that child placement should not be done outside their villages. At the same time they propose fast persecution of crimes and reconciliation. Housing that focuses on children wellbeing will also contribute greatly in curbing suicide.

Touignant, Vitenti and Morin argue that children placed outside of their villages suffer compared to those in placements within the villages. At the same time, poor housing is a contributor to suicide since it negatively impacts on the children’s wellbeing. These finding are crucial to my topic because they go beyond identifying the causes to proposing practical policy areas that will deal with the problem.

Moniruzzaman, A., Pearce, M.E., Patel, S.H., Chavoshi, N., Teegee, M., Adam, W., et al. (2009). Cedar Project: Correlates of attempted suicide among young Aboriginal people who use injection and non-injection drugs in two Canadian cities. International Journal of Circumpolar Health, 68, 261–73.

The article describes suicide attempts prevalence and the drug substance abuse. It is evident that suicide attempts correlate well with vulnerable Aboriginal people addicted to drugs. The research was based on the context of historical trauma. The American Indians lost lives, land, and culture after the European invasion and colonization. Consequently, there has been the unresolved long legacy of chronic trauma and their grief. Trauma cause social pathology such as domestic violence, homicide, suicide, child abuse and drug additional among the Native Americans. The alcohol drinkers and smokers were likely to live with other people with the same problem. The drug abusers had a long history of legal issues and experienced higher levels of convictions. The people spend time in jail, or probation and parole. The author describes the western treatment modalities in combination with traditional cultural methods for grieving and healing from the mental disturbances and trauma.

Catalano, R., Berglund, M. Ryan J., Loneczak, H. & Hawkins, D. (2002). Positive youth development in the United States: Research findings on evaluations of positive youth development programs. Prevention and treatment Article 15. Retrieved on March 5, 2017, from http:///journal.apa.org/prevention/volume/pre0050015a.html

The authors offer the thorough examination of ‘positive youth development programs’ in the United States. The article defined positive youth programs and located through search evaluations of the program and summarized the outcomes. The policy makers, prevention scientist, and health practitioners must change the approach used in addressing youth issues in the country. The authors argued that efforts geared towards opportunity creation for the youth will help in engagement and enhancement of the programs in the social settings. The country can offer the program through recreational centers and schools. Such settings will help engagement in meaningful life skills and physical fitness training thus improve the social interactions. The participants of the program gain quality and quantitative skills that foster bonding and resilience. Consequently, the participants develop a clear and definite identity that supports positive opportunities and behavior required in the pro-social involvement.

Edwards, N., Alaghehbandan, R., MacDonald, D., Sikdar, K., Collins, K., & Avis, S. (January 01, 2008). Suicide in Newfoundland and Labrador: a linkage study using medical examiner and vital statistics data. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 53, 4, 252-9.

The objectives of the research were to compare suicide rates among Aboriginal communities living in Labrador including Southern Inuit, Inuit, Innu and the population of Newfoundland in Canada. The study involved Aboriginal governments in understanding suicide mortality from 1993 -2008. The survey used statistics from Vital Death Database that linked well with Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. The researchers consulted the youth, elders, mental health staff, policy makers and clinicians. The Labrador region recorded higher suicide rates compared to Newfoundland. The greatest affected age group was between 10 -19 years with the males accounting for the majority of the deaths. An increased risk of suicide attempts was associated with female sex, single status, teenagers and young adult, and low educational levels. Death in Labrador affects Innu and Inuit population disproportionately.

Conclusion

The interventions focus on building healthy communities through integrated and community-focused approach to suicide prevention. The programs engage the local Aboriginal community in using culturally appropriate methods in identifying and responding to the vulnerable people in the community. Youth suicide prevention strategies are tailored to the needs of the individual indigenous men and women. The programs help in resilience development thus enhancing mental health and connectedness with the native’s cultural practices. The program is helpful to the caregivers. The caregivers have the opportunity to develop cultural competence and other skills required in mentoring and giving the necessary support to the clients.

References

Catalano, R., Berglund, M. Ryan J., Loneczak, H. & Hawkins, D. (2002). Positive youth development in the United States: Research findings on evaluations of positive youth development programs. Prevention and treatment Article 15. Retrieved on March 5, 2017, from http:///journal.apa.org/prevention/volume/pre0050015a.html

Edwards, N., Alaghehbandan, R., MacDonald, D., Sikdar, K., Collins, K., & Avis, S. (January 01, 2008). Suicide in Newfoundland and Labrador: a linkage study using medical examiner and vital statistics data. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 53, 4, 252-9.

Dunn, E. R. (2013). The Influence of Belief in a positive afterlife on youth suicide in the Northern Ontario First Nation. Dissertation, Walden University.

Marika, M. & Claire, C. (2015). Structural and Cultural Factors in Suicide Prevention: The Contrast between Mainstream and Inuit Approaches to Understanding and Preventing Suicide, Journal of Social Work Practice, 29 (3), 321-338.

Moniruzzaman, A., Pearce, M.E., Patel, S.H., Chavoshi, N., Teegee, M., Adam, W., Christian W. M., Henderson E., Craib K. J., Schechter M. T., Spittal PM; Cedar Project Partnership. (2009). Cedar Project: Correlates of attempted suicide among young Aboriginal people who use injection and non-injection drugs in two Canadian cities. International Journal of Circumpolar Health, 68, 261–73.

Tousignant, M., Vitenti, L. & Morin, N. (2013). Aboriginal youth suicide prevention in Quebec: the contribution of public policy for prevention. International Journal of Law and Psychiatry. 36, 399-405.