Indigenous

Suicide among Australia’s Indigenous population is significantly higher than the general Australian population. Estimates suggest that, in some years, the suicide rate for Indigenous people in specific communities is as much as 40% higher than that for the Australian population as a whole. Over the past 30 years Indigenous suicide has increased, with young Indigenous males being the most at risk. 

This page contains the following sections: statistics, issues to consider, more information, policy resources and research.

Statistics

Gender
In line with patterns across the general population of Australia, Indigenous males are considerably more likely to die by suicide than Indigenous females. The following shows that the same pattern within each gender is evident for the different age groupings.

Indigenous males

• Age 0-24: 30 per 100,000
• Age 25-34: 105* per 100,000
• Age 35-44: 62 per 100,000

Indigenous females

• Age 0-24: 10 per 100,000
• Age 25-34:  20 per 100,000
• Age 35-44: 17 per 100,000

* Numbers are approximate.

Source: ABS (2008) The Health and Welfare of Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples (Catalogue No. 4704.0)

Indigenous and non-Indigenous suicide rate discrepancy

According to the most recent ABS statistics (2001-2005), Indigenous males aged 44 years or younger are up to three times more likely to complete suicide than males who are not Indigenous. The discrepancy between the Indigenous and non-Indigenous male suicide rate aged 45 and over is approximately equal. A similar pattern is apparent for females.

 

Issues to consider

Cultural differences need to be considered when working within Indigenous communities. The following are some suggestions to consider:

Approach to mental health, and suicidal behaviours

• Interconnected community focus on the following factors:

1. Spiritual
2. Physical
3. Emotional
4. Social
5. Cultural

• Focus on promotion rather than prevention

Approaches to verbal and nonverbal communication can include:

• Use of non-confrontational language
• Being a patient listener
• Asking for clarification when uncertain

It is helpful to employ Indigenous workers where possible and workers who are culturally sensitive in suicide prevention activities. You may also like to consider engaging a cultural consultant and maintaining awareness of variation between different Indigenous communities.

More information

LIFE Resources

• Fact sheet 16: Suicide prevention in Indigenous communities
• Fact sheet 24: I am feeling suicidal 
• Fact sheet 23: I know someone who is suicidal 
• LIFE News Issue 3: Indigenous edition 
• Conduct a library search using keyword: Indigenous
• LIFE discussion forums on Indigenous social and emotional wellbeing (only available to Professional Development Network members).

National Suicide Prevention Strategy projects

• Life Matters for Koori Youth
• Mental Health First Aid Training and Research Program
• StandBy Response Service
• Community Activity Programs through Education– Indigenous Police Citizen Youth Club (Cape PCYC)
• LifeForce suicide prevention program
• We Know Our Strengths

Indigenous social and emotional wellbeing organisations

• Mibbinbah: Indigenous Men, Health and Indigenous Men's Spaces
  Indigenous Psychological Services   
• National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO)
• National Coalition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Workers Association Inc (NCATSISWA)   
• Office for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health (OATSIH) 
• Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies
  

Further resources

• Aboriginal suicide prevention information (Lifeline)
• Suicide: For Indigenous media and programs (Mindframe)
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples (Auseinet)
• Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet (Centre for Indigenous Australian Education and Research)

Policy resources

• Northern Territory strategic framework for suicide prevention 
• Recommended policy and programs for preventing suicide and suicidal behaviour among Aboriginal youth in Western Australia
• Reducing suicide: The Queensland Government suicide prevention strategy, 2003-2008 (note: there are references to Indigenous suicide prevention throughout this document, but see pp 4, 13, 27-30 in particular)
• Suicide: We Can All Make a Difference, NSW Government (see pp 22-23)

 

Research

• The use of puppetry for health promotion and suicide prevention among Mi'Kmaq youth (USA, 2008)
• A post-Jungian perspective on 55 indigenous suicides in Central Australia; deadly cycles of diminished resilience, impaired nurturance, compromised interiority; and possibilities for repair (Australia, 2007)
• Aboriginal language knowledge and youth suicide (UK, 2007)
• Aboriginal and Islander Health Worker Journal (Australia, 2006)
• Aboriginal suicidal behaviour research: From risk factors to culturally-sensitive interventions (Canada, 2006)
• Indigenous Suicide in New Zealand (NZ, 2006)
• Aboriginal people working together to prevent suicide and self harm (Australia, 2005)
• Suicide in Western Australia 1986-2002 (Australia, 2005)
• Australian Aboriginal suicide: The need for an Aboriginal suicidology? (Australia, 2004)
• Aboriginal Safety Promotion Strategy (Australia, 2004)