POLICE ASSOCIATION OF NOVA SCOTIA 71 Suicide among Indigenous Peoples in Canada Article by Allison Crawford, Published Online September 22, 2016 First Nations in Canada have suicide rates double that of the national average, and Inuit communities tend to have even higher rates. Suicide in these cases has multiple social and individual causes.To date, there are a number of emerging programs in suicide prevention by Indigenous organizations that attempt to integrate Indigenous knowledge with evidence-informed prevention approaches. This article contains sensitive material that may not be suitable for all audiences. In the spring of 2016, Attawapiskat First Nation in Ontario declared a state of emergency after 11 young people tried to end their lives by suicide.The news story made national headlines, but this was not the first or only suicide crisis among Indigenous peoples in Canada in recent years. According toThe Human Face of Mental Health and Mental Illness in Canada, a 2006 report by the Public HealthAgency of Canada, First Nations in Canada have suicide rates double that of the national average, and Inuit communities tend to have even higher rates (six to 11 times the Canadian average). A report from Statistics Canada for the period 2011 to 2016 revealed that the rate among First Nations was three times higher than among the non-Indigenous population; the rate was 1.6 times higher among Métis and nine times higher among Inuit communities. Suicide in these cases has multiple social and individual causes, including social inequity such as poverty and lack of access to healthcare; history of childhood adversity including physical and sexual abuse; historic and ongoing loss of cultural identity; and psychological distress and substance use. Suicide affects not only individuals and Indigenous communities but Canada at large. To date, there are a number of emerging programs in suicide prevention by Indigenous organizations that attempt to integrate Indigenous knowledge with evidence-informed prevention approaches. Rates of Suicidal Behaviour Suicidal behaviours are intentional thoughts and actions aimed at ending one’s life.They generally include thinking about suicide, inflicting self-harm or attempting suicide, which may result in death. In Canada, approximately 11 people die by suicide every day. Suicide is also a global public health problem; in 2012, for example, approximately 804,000 people in the world died by suicide. For young and Indigenous people, the problem is especially pronounced. Suicide is the second-leading cause of death globally for people aged 15 to 29. Indigenous populations in many areas of the world also have the elevated rates of suicide - including inAustralia, New Zealand, Greenland, the United States and Canada. Some First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities in Canada have much higher rates of suicide than the general Canadian population, although it is important to note that some communities have rates that are similar to the national average. Suicide among First Nations youth (aged 15 to 24 years) across Canada is five to six times higher than among non-Indigenous peoples.These elevated rates are seen in males and females, although higher among males.According to a 2000 report by the Canadian Institute of Health, the rate of suicide among First Nation males was 126 per 100,000 (compared to 24 per 100,000 non-Indigenous males), while it was 35 per 100,000 for females (compared to 5 per 100,000 non-Indigenous females).Data from 2011 to 2016 shows an average rate of 29.6 per 100,000 for First Nations males and 19.5 per 100,000 for First Nations females.Recent data gathered by Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami for Inuit living in Northern Canada showed elevated rates in all regions, with Nunatsiavut in Labrador experiencing suicide at rates 25 times higher than the rest of Canada. Rates for Inuit youth in some areas are up to 40 times the national average. It also appears that many Indigenous peoples in Canada think about suicide more often than non-Indigenous Canadians. Nearly one quarter of First Nations people think about suicide at some point in their life.This also applies to Indigenous people living off-reserve; according to Statistics Canada data from 2012, 21 per cent of First Nations men and 26 per cent of First Nations women living off-reserve have suicidal thoughts, compared with 11 per cent of non-Indigenous men and 14 per cent of (continued)
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