NCJ Number
227672
Journal
American Indian and Alaske Native Mental Health Research Volume: 1 Issue: 3 Dated: March 1988 Pages: 19-24
Date Published
March 1988
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This study prepared a profile of suicide attempters on a Sioux Indian reservation, identified associated factors, and demonstrated the accessibility of Public Health Service medical record data in designing planned interventions.
Abstract
Highlights of the results show that all teenage males utilized hanging as a common method. Female attempts were predominantly overdoses; after age 20 male attempts also involved drug overdoses. In contrast to national norms, within this population, females attempted suicide only slightly more frequently than males. Precipitating events varied and appeared to be multifactorial. They included faulty relationships, custody anxieties, personal disappointments, and chronic alcohol problems. Major peak periods of attempts were in December and then again in April/May. Sufficient data could be obtained from Public Health Service medical records to learn important facts regarding suicide attempts and to implement interventions. However, suggestions are presented for communities and tribes wishing to use a public health approach to reduce attempts and/or reduce suicides. Medial records provide significant data to develop attempter profiles, identify high-risk groups, determine high-risk days and months, and identify methods of attempts and other data useful in the development of intervention plans. This study analyzed 72 Indian Health Service medical records of suicide attempts and completions covering a 1-year time span on a Sioux Indian reservation using a 41-item protocol. Figures and references