Australian Aboriginal suicide: The need for an Aboriginal suicidology?
Terri Elliott-Farrelly
Illawarra Aboriginal Medical Service, Wollongong NSW
PP: 138 - 145
Abstract
This article examines suicide among Australian Aboriginal peoples, and reviews current directions in suicide prevention. A particular focus is on the apparent differences discovered by other researchers in suicidal behaviour, risk factors, response to prevention programs, as well as cultures, customs and beliefs between the Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal population, and between different Aboriginal communities and groups.
Despite evidence of such differences, Aboriginal suicide continues to be addressed under the same framework as the general population by national suicide prevention strategies. Also, many Aboriginal suicide prevention initiatives continue to be adapted from existing non-Aboriginal models, which are based on non-Aboriginal understandings of suicide, health and healthcare. The evidence is reviewed in the context of the argument for an Aboriginal suicidology that is separate to the current mainstream suicidology, which could have the potential to better inform the development and future direction of more effective and appropriate Australian Aboriginal suicide prevention initiatives.
Keywords
suicide, Aboriginal people, self-harm, social and emotional wellbeing, mental health, suicide prevention
Article Text
Incomprehensive mortality and morbidity data both nationwide and within individual states and regions makes it impossible to gain a clear picture of the occurrence of suicidal behaviour in the Aboriginal population. Aboriginal suicide is currently addressed under the same framework as the general population by national suicide prevention strategies. Prevention approaches in the majority tend to be adapted from existing non-Aboriginal models, which are based on non-Aboriginal understandings of suicide, health and healthcare, as detailed in this article. However, recent research that has been conducted by Tatz (1999) and Hunter, Reser, Baird & Reser (2001) has indicated important differences in suicidal behaviour epidemiology and aetiology, not only between the Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal populations, but between different Aboriginal communities and groups.
... continues ...
References
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (1998) As a Matter of Fact. Canberra: Office of Public Affairs, ATSIC.
Allen F (2000) Suicide: What is to be done? Australian Psychologist 35(1) 29-31.
American Psychiatric Association (2000) Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision. Washington DC: American Psychiatric Association.
Australian Bureau of Statistics & Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (1999) The Health and Welfare of Australia's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. Canberra: AIHW and ABS.
Brideson T and King C (2002) Aboriginal suicide prevention - 'Who is responsible?' Paper presented at the Suicide Prevention Australia Conference Quality of Life - Quality of Care, Sydney, June.
Capp K, Deane FP and Lambert G (2001) Suicide prevention in Aboriginal communities: application of community gatekeeper training. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health 25(4), 315-321.
Centre for Mental Health (2000) The NSW Suicide Data Report: Suicide in NSW - We Need to Know More. Sydney: NSW Health Department.
Choo C (1990) Aboriginal Child Poverty. Melbourne: Brotherhood of St. Lawrence.
Clarke C, Harnett P and Shochet I (1998) Promoting family and community resilience in Indigenous communities. Paper presented to the 6th Australian Institute of Family Studies Conference: Changing Families, Challenging Futures, Melbourne, November.
Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care (2000) Promotion, Prevention and Early Intervention for Mental Health - A Monograph. Canberra: Mental Health and Special Programs Branch, Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care.
Donaghy B (1997) Leaving Early - Youth Suicide: The Horror, the Heartbreak, the Hope. Sydney: Harper Collins.
Eckermann A, Dowd T, Martin M, Nixon L, Gray R and Chong E (1992) Binan Goonj: Bridging Cultures in Aboriginal Health. Armidale, Australia: University of New England Press:
Gray A, Trompf P and Houston S (1991) The decline and rise of Aboriginal families. In J Reid and P Trompf (Eds) The Health of Aboriginal Australia. Marrickville, Australia: Harcourt Brace & Company:
Harrison J, Miller E, Weeramanthri T, Wakerman J and Barnes T (2001) Information Sources for Injury Prevention among Indigenous Australians - Status and Prospects for Improvement. Canberra: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.
Hassan R (1996) Social factors in suicide in Australia. In Trends and Issues in Crime and Criminal Justice No. 52. Canberra: Australian Institute of Criminology.
Hunter E and Harvey D (2002) Indigenous suicide in Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the United States. Emergency Medicine 14, 14-23.
Hunter E, Reser J, Baird M and Reser P (2001) An Analysis of Suicide in Indigenous Communities of North Queensland: The Historical, Cultural and Symbolic Landscape. Canberra: Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care.
Leenaars AA, Brown C, Taparti L, Anowak J and Hill-Keddie T (1999) Genocide and suicide among Indigenous people: The North meets the South. The Canadian Journal of Native Studies 19(2), 337-363.
Mason G (1991) Youth Suicide in Australia - Prevention Strategies. Canberra: Department of Employment, Education and Training (Youth Bureau).
Mitchell P (2000a) Building Capacity for Life Promotion: Evaluation of the National Youth Suicide Prevention Strategy. Melbourne: Australian Institute of Family Studies.
Mitchell P (2000b) Valuing Young Lives: Evaluation of the National Youth Suicide Prevention Strategy. Melbourne: Australian Institute of Family Studies.
National Advisory Council for Youth Suicide Prevention (1998) National Action Plan for Suicide Prevention - Consultation Draft. Canberra: Publications Production Unit, Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care.
Ranasinghe P and Westley-Wise V (1999) Suicides, attempted suicides and suicide related hospitalisations in the Shoalhaven Area, 1878-1995. In W Preston, S Morrell, K Blackmore and J Elkington, National Youth Suicide Program, Final Report: Shoalhaven Combined Services, Best Practice in Suicide Management. Canberra: Commonwealth Department of Health and Family Services.
Reser JP (1991) Aboriginal mental health: Conflicting cultural perspectives. In J Reid and P Trompf (Eds) The Health of Aboriginal Australia. Marrickville, Australia: Harcourt Brace & Company.
Swan P and Raphael B (1995) Ways Forward: National Consultancy Report on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Mental Health. Canberra: AGPS.
Tatz C (1999) Aboriginal Suicide is Different - Aboriginal Youth Suicide in New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory and New Zealand: Towards a Model of Explanation and Alleviation. Criminology Research Council CRC Project 25/96-7.
Thomson N (1991) A review of Aboriginal health status. In J Reid and P Trompf (Eds) The Health of Aboriginal Australia. Marrickville, Australia: Harcourt Brace & Company.
Thompson N (1996) People Skills: A Guide to Effective Practice in the Human Services. London: MacMillan.
Young People at Risk: Research and Evaluation Team (1996) Young People at Risk: Research and Evaluation. Herston, Australia: Department of Psychiatry, University of Queensland.
eContent Home
