Suicide rates are higher for Indigenous people than other Australians, and suicide and self-harm cause great grief in many Indigenous communities.
Indigenous suicide is influenced by a complex set of factors. There are significant differences in suicidal behaviour not only between Indigenous and non-Indigenous populations, but also between different Indigenous communities. Suicide is often impulsive, and may be preceded by interpersonal conflicts. But suicide frequently occurs in communities that have experienced similar losses in the past, and where ‘lifestyles of risk’ are common.
Research suggests that Indigenous suicide and self-harm are most common among young men (although suicide attempts seem to be more common for Indigenous women). Suicide and selfharm are generally associated with disadvantage such as unemployment and low levels of education. Other factors include interpersonal conflicts and alcohol and substance misuse, (although only 15 per cent of Indigenous people report consuming alcohol at a risky level). Other factors are incarceration, violence and family breakdown. Anxiety and depression are major contributors, particularly among young Indigenous people.
Report Chapter 3: Headline Indicators
(PDF document)
Attachment 3A
(Excel document)
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