Acting on what we know preventing youth suicide in First Nations : the report of the Advisory Group on Suicide Prevention

Canada. Health Canada. (Added Author). Advisory Group on Suicide Prevention (Canada) (Added Author).

Summary: Suicide among First Nations youth has been occurring at an alarming rate in recent years. Statistics show an Aboriginal suicide rate two to three times higher than the non-Aboriginal rate for Canada, and within the youth age group the Aboriginal suicide rate is estimated to be five to six times higher than that of non-Aboriginal youth. In July, 2001 a Suicide Prevention Advisory Group was jointly appointed by National Chief Matthew Coon Come of the Assembly of First Nations and former Minister of Health, Allan Rock. The purpose of this Advisory Group was to review the existing research and formulate a series of practical, doable recommendations to help stem the tide of youth suicides occurring in First Nations communities across Canada. The Advisory Group met between July 2001 and June 2002 to collaborate on this task. Through discussion, literature review and preparation of background papers, key issues were identified and recommendations generated. This report provides an examination of these issues, from basic suicide data to specific factors affecting First Nations, and based on this, presents recommendations for action. The recommendations listed below fall into four main themes: increasing knowledge about what works in suicide prevention; developing more effective and integrated health care services at national, regional and local levels; supporting community-driven approaches; and creating strategies for building youth identity, resilience and culture. No single approach is likely to be effective on its own. To reduce the risk of suicide, it is essential to make multi-level changes to systems that support youth, families and communities in crisis. This report sets out a concrete series of steps, some of which can be immediately initiated by government and Aboriginal organizations. It is hoped that through these recommendations a collaborative and proactive response to First Nations youth suicide prevention will emerge.

Record details

Physical Description: electronic resource
remote
1 electronic text (179 p.) : digital file.
Publisher: [Ottawa, Ont. : Health Canada, 2003]

Content descriptions

General Note:	Cover title.
Bibliography, etc. Note:	Includes bibliographical references.
Formatted Contents Note:	Acting on What We Know: Preventing Youth Suicide in First Nations -- Background: Suicide Prevention Advisory Group -- Methodology -- Description of this Report -- Introduction to the Issue -- Key Suicide Data: First Nations Youth Suicide Rates are High -- Suicides are Increasing in Some Communities -- Suicide Rates Differ by Tribal Council and Language Group -- Suicides Vary by Cultural Continuity Factors -- Youth Suicide Rates Differ by Gender -- Rates of Depression and Acute Stress are High in First Nations -- Home is Not a Safe Haven for Many First Nations Youth -- Recurring Themes in the Literature -- Medicalization and the Need for Health Partnerships between Biomedical Approaches and Traditional Healing -- The Stigma of Emotional and Psychological Distress -- Suicide May Occur More Often in Marginalized Groups -- Gender Differences: Why First Nations Suicide Occurs More Often in Males -- De-politicizing the Issue and Politicizing Youth -- Conclusion -- Part 1: Putting Forward an Evidence-Based Approach to Prevention -- Research on Current Aboriginal Suicide Prevention Programs -- Current Prevention Practices: Primary, Secondary, ("Intervention"), and Tertiary ("Postvention") -- Elements of Effective Suicide Prevention Programs -- The Role of Health Professionals -- School-Based Strategies -- Community-based Strategies -- Guidelines for Effective Suicide Prevention -- Recommended Guidelines -- Orientation -- Coordination -- Prevention -- Intervention -- Postvention -- Evaluation -- Summary and Objectives -- Recommendations -- Part 2: Toward Effective, Integrated Health Care at National and Regional Levels -- Description of Existing Programs -- Problems with Existing Programs -- Roots of the Problem -- Solutions -- Summary and Objectives -- Recommendations -- Part 3: The Importance of Community-Driven Approaches -- Why Engage the Community -- Broad in Scope and Tailored to the Needs of the Community -- Deal with the Underlying Causes of Suicide -- Involve all Stages and Levels of Prevention -- Meaningful Involvement of Youth -- How Best to Engage the Community -- Summary and Objectives -- Recommendations -- Part 4: Identity, Resilience & Culture -- Identity -- Resilience -- Culture -- Spirituality -- Summary and Objectives -- Recommendations -- Concluding Remarks -- References -- Appendix A: Suicide Prevention Advisory Group--Member Profiles -- Appendix B: Suicide Prevention Advisory Group--Terms of Reference -- Appendix C: List of Documents Reviewed -- Appendix D: Research on Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Promotion in First Nations Communities -- Appendix E: An Analysis of NIHB-Funded Mental Health Services: Implications for First Nations Youth Suicide -- Appendix F: Community Crisis Assessment Guideline -- Appendix G: Community Development -- Appendix H: Recommended Administrative Infrastructure to Support Demonstration Projects -- Appendix I: Glossary of Terms.
System Details Note:	Mode of access: World Wide Web (or Internet).