Suicide and Self Harm in Indigenous Australia
Almost non-existent 30 years ago, the rate of suicide and self harm amongst the First Australians has reached crisis levels, particularly in remote communities and particularly amongst youth. Hope Vale, like Indigenous communities Australia wide, is struggling from disproportionate rates of youth suicide, the highest of any Indigenous population anywhere in the world (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2015). This is particularly prevalent in the 10-14 age group (Culture is Life, 2013). Among Indigenous youth aged 15-24 nationwide, rates of intentional self harm are 5.2 times the rate of non-Indigenous young people (Closing the Gap Clearinghouse 2014, AIHW 2015), which is simply unacceptable considering the steady decrease amongst non-Indigenous youth.
In the Northern Territory, Indigenous youth suicide is 10 times higher than for non-Indigenous youth. Between 2007 and 2011, 75% of child suicides in the Territory were Indigenous children. Suicide has become the second leading cause of death for Aboriginal men in the NT after cardiovascular disease (Northern Territory Legislative Assembly, 2012).
Families are reeling in grief, and communities are overwhelmed with what many are calling "an epidemic of self harm".
Something is desperately wrong, and urgent action is needed to restore the balance of life in Aboriginal communities.
In the Northern Territory, Indigenous youth suicide is 10 times higher than for non-Indigenous youth. Between 2007 and 2011, 75% of child suicides in the Territory were Indigenous children. Suicide has become the second leading cause of death for Aboriginal men in the NT after cardiovascular disease (Northern Territory Legislative Assembly, 2012).
Families are reeling in grief, and communities are overwhelmed with what many are calling "an epidemic of self harm".
Something is desperately wrong, and urgent action is needed to restore the balance of life in Aboriginal communities.
Why is this Happening?
Suicide is an act of desperation, driven by a combination of life factors that negatively impact on that person’s social and emotional wellbeing. For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, these factors are quite distinct from the rest of the population (Australian Indigenous Health InfoNet, 2014).
Some of the following ‘risk factors’ have been identified by community leaders, Elders and those working closely with Indigenous communities in Australia (Culture is Life, 2013):
Some of the following ‘risk factors’ have been identified by community leaders, Elders and those working closely with Indigenous communities in Australia (Culture is Life, 2013):
- Unresolved historical and inter-generational trauma (frontier massacres, dispossession from traditional lands, assimilation policy, Stolen Generations, racism, abuse)
- Loss of cultural identity and spiritual connection to land
- Unemployment and lack of opportunities
- Poverty and overcrowding
- Disempowerment and loss of community control and traditional authority
- Ongoing racism and institutional prejudice
What is the Solution?
In order to address the factors identified above, a holistic and community driven approach is needed to improve the social and emotional wellbeing of Indigenous people in Australia (Social Health Reference Group, 2004). Elders and community leaders are calling to lead in the process of healing their communities (People Culture Environment, 2013), and have asked for Australians to understand that the best steps that can be taken to curb the increasing problem involve:
A number of protective factors have been shown to improve wellbeing and reduce the risk of suicide (Closing the Gap Clearinghouse, 2014). These include:
- The links between cultural strength, cultural identity and young Indigenous people’s vulnerability to suicide and self- harm;
- Supporting Elders to maintain and pass on their cultural knowledge to young people and that this involves taking young people onto country so they can reconnect with who they are as the basis for building self-belief, self-confidence and self-respect;
- Adopting a ‘community centred’ approach to healing that is led by local Elders and which involves building community and cultural strength as a foundation for helping Indigenous youth be stronger, more resilient and more positive about their future.
A number of protective factors have been shown to improve wellbeing and reduce the risk of suicide (Closing the Gap Clearinghouse, 2014). These include:
- Keeping culture and language strong
- Living on or maintaining relationship with traditional lands
- Bridging the divide between youth and Elders
- Community empowerment and self determination
- 'Two-way' education at school
- Engaging activities for youth in communities
References:
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2015). Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Suicide Deaths. Retrieved 07/03/2015
Australian Indigenous Health InfoNet. (2014). Summary of Australian Indigenous health, 2013. Retrieved 06/03/2015
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. (2014). Suicide and hospitalised self-harm in Australia: trends and analysis. Injury research and statistics. series no. 93. Cat. no. INJCAT 169. [Canberra] : AIHW.
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2015). The health and welfare of Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples 2015. Cat. no. IHW 147. [Canberra] : AIHW. Retrieved 13/06/2015
Closing the Gap Clearinghouse. (2014). Effective strategies to strengthen the mental health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Issues paper no. 12. [Canberra] : Australian Department of Health and Ageing.
Mick Gooda, Pat Dudgeon. (2014). The Elders’ Report into Preventing Indigenous Self-harm & Youth Suicide. [Melbourne] : People Culture Environment. Retrieved 24/02/2015
Social Health Reference Group. (2004). National Strategic Framework for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ Mental Health and Social and Emotional Well Being 2004-2009. [Canberra] : Australian Department of Health and Ageing, Canberra.
Northern Territory Legislative Assembly. Select Committee on Youth Suicides in the NT. & Scrymgour, Marion. (2012). Gone too soon: a report into youth suicide in the Northern Territory. [Darwin] : Legislative Assembly. Retrieved 08/03/2015
Australian Indigenous Health InfoNet. (2014). Summary of Australian Indigenous health, 2013. Retrieved 06/03/2015
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. (2014). Suicide and hospitalised self-harm in Australia: trends and analysis. Injury research and statistics. series no. 93. Cat. no. INJCAT 169. [Canberra] : AIHW.
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2015). The health and welfare of Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples 2015. Cat. no. IHW 147. [Canberra] : AIHW. Retrieved 13/06/2015
Closing the Gap Clearinghouse. (2014). Effective strategies to strengthen the mental health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Issues paper no. 12. [Canberra] : Australian Department of Health and Ageing.
Mick Gooda, Pat Dudgeon. (2014). The Elders’ Report into Preventing Indigenous Self-harm & Youth Suicide. [Melbourne] : People Culture Environment. Retrieved 24/02/2015
Social Health Reference Group. (2004). National Strategic Framework for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ Mental Health and Social and Emotional Well Being 2004-2009. [Canberra] : Australian Department of Health and Ageing, Canberra.
Northern Territory Legislative Assembly. Select Committee on Youth Suicides in the NT. & Scrymgour, Marion. (2012). Gone too soon: a report into youth suicide in the Northern Territory. [Darwin] : Legislative Assembly. Retrieved 08/03/2015