Citation

Pollock NJ, Mulay S, Valcour J, Jong M. Am. J. Public Health 2016; 106(7): 1309-1315.

Affiliation

Nathaniel J. Pollock is with the Labrador Institute and the Division of Community Health and Humanities, Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University, Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada and the Institute of Circumpolar Health Research, Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada. Shree Mulay and James Valcour are with the Division of Community Health and Humanities, Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Michael Jong is with the Labrador-Grenfell Regional Health Authority and the Discipline of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University, Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, American Public Health Association)

DOI

10.2105/AJPH.2016.303151

PMID

27196659

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To compare suicide rates in Aboriginal communities in Labrador, including Innu, Inuit, and Southern Inuit, with the general population of Newfoundland, Canada.

METHODS: In partnership with Aboriginal governments, we conducted a population-based study to understand patterns of suicide mortality in Labrador. We analyzed suicide mortality data from 1993 to 2009 from the Vital Statistics Death Database. We combined this with community-based methods, including consultations with Elders, youths, mental health and community workers, primary care clinicians, and government decision-makers.

RESULTS: The suicide rate was higher in Labrador than in Newfoundland. This trend persisted across all age groups; however, the disparity was greatest among those aged 10 to 19 years. Males accounted for the majority of deaths, although suicide rates were elevated among females in the Inuit communities. When comparing Aboriginal subregions, the Innu and Inuit communities had the highest age-standardized mortality rates of, respectively, 165.6 and 114.0 suicides per 100 000 person-years.

CONCLUSIONS: Suicide disproportionately affects Innu and Inuit populations in Labrador. Suicide rates were high among male youths and Inuit females. (Am J Public Health. Published online ahead of print May 19, 2016: e1-e7. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2016.303151).

Language: en