Suicide Prevention
In the last 10 years the suicide rate for adolescent Aboriginal girls has been 8 times the national average of non-Aboriginal adolescent girls. NWAC conducted focus groups in 2007 and showed Aboriginal girls face larger social issues, such as marginalization, racism and violence. Suicide in Aboriginal communities makes a painful lasting impact in our communities that requires resources as well as time to heal. Sadly, many Aboriginal communities are close-knit and suicide among youth can occur in clusters. It is not unheard of to lose 4 or more youth to suicide in a relatively short time span.
The Challenge
Aboriginal girls attempt suicide more frequently than their male counter parts. Debold, (1995) reports that “although boys are more likely to commit suicide, girls attempt suicide 4 to 5 times more frequently”. As one youth voiced, “We have two strikes against us, we are native and we are girls.” These special implications make it particularly important that female Aboriginal youth be a part of the development of activities that will support resiliency and promote mental health. NWAC continues to take the steps necessary to include this young female Aboriginal perspective in its work with NAYSPS. In the report, “Acting on What We Know: Preventing Youth Suicide in First Nations” Health Canada reported that suicide may occur more often in marginalized groups, such as young Aboriginal women and girls.
The Program
Mental health promotion through healthy lifestyle options such as activities with an inherent connection to culture has been researched and studied by Mumtaz and Williams as a means to suicide prevention. NWAC believes that culture has its place in all facets of Aboriginal people’s lives and is necessary as we continue to decolonize ourselves and our communities.
The Opportunity
Suicide is linked to many social challenges Aboriginal people face such as addictions, violence, intergenerational affects of residential school, post traumatic stress, unhealthy relationships etc. By anchoring all activities with culture in activities as diverse as volleyball, sewing and drum making will rise from an isolated practise to common practise in our communities both in urban and on-reserve/settlements.