NCJ Number
227670
Journal
American Indian and Alaska Native Mental Health Research Volume: 1 Issue: 1 Dated: Summer 1990 Pages: 57-74
Date Published
1990
Length
18 pages
Annotation
Through a review of select studies, this article examines the prevalence and trends of suicide among American Indian youth and the general youth population in the United States.
Abstract
Highlights of characteristics of youth suicide among Indians of New Mexico include: (1) the youth suicide rate was greater than the United States rate 20 years ago and has increased more rapidly than the comparable United States rate; (2) data showed the highest rates among the Apaches and the lowest among the Navajo; (3) Indian youth suicides of all tribes were predominately male (90 percent) as opposed to 76 percent in the general United States population; (4) violent methods were more commonly used by New Mexico Indians than others in the United States with firearms at 71 percent; and (5) virtually all who committed suicide were born locally (98 percent in New Mexico and Arizona); and (6) the vast majority of all New Mexico Indian suicides lived (over 85 percent) in reservation communities. In addition to the above, data were presented on general characteristics of the Indian population, background on Indian suicide, general characteristics of Indian suicide, suicide attempts, motor vehicle accidents, and self-destructive behavior. Suicide mortality among most tribes in American Indians has predominantly been a problem of the young. The focus of this article was a brief review of selected studies and data on suicide and self-destruction among American Indians of various tribes. It defines the nature and trends of suicide among this Nation's original ethnic groups, particularly tribes of American Indians. Tables, figures, notes, and references