Citation

Tavite A, Tavite S. Pac. Health Dialog 2009; 15(2): 67-83.

Affiliation

Tokelau Health Department, Tokelau.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2009, Pacific Basin Officers Training Program and the Fiji School of Medicine)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

20443523

Abstract

The survey revealed extremely high suicide prevalence in Tokelau within the last 25 years. Attempted suicide rate of 40/1500 (and fatal suicide rate of 6/1500 (1980-2004) with increasing trend in recent years. With consideration of the small population of 1500, these rates are quite devastating. Attempted suicide was higher among Male (65%) than Female, thou there was a 1:1 ratio between genders in fatal suicides. Suicide was highest among the younger population (14-25) years old. Eighty three percent (83%) of fatalities were below the age of 25 and 67% were below the age of 20. Sixty seven percent (67%) of fatal cases were reported in Fakaofo and none was reported in Nukunonu. The most common method of suicide was hanging (40% of attempted cases, 83% of fatal cases hung themselves). This study revealed several factors that could have caused or contributed to suicidal behaviours in Tokelau. These included: failure within family relationships between parents and children; relationships problems such as marriage breakdown; boyfriend-girlfriend relationship problems; people gossiping and public humiliation; lost of loved ones, lost of status within the community; ashamed or afraid because they had done something wrong/unacceptable; depressed, bored; or anger; and failure in school examination. The outcome of this study calls for a collaborative approach between the Government of Tokelau, non-government bodies, churches, regional and international organizations and the three local communities to develop and implement appropriate preventative strategies to avoid losing another loved one to this devastating action.

Language: en