NCJ Number
46110
Journal
CANADIAN PSYCHIATRIC ASSOCIATION JOURNAL Volume: 22 Issue: 8 Dated: (DECEMBER 1977)
Date Published
1977
Length
4 pages
Annotation
A PSYCHIATRIC STUDY OF EIGHT SUICIDE VICTIMS, 17 TO 31 YEARS OLD, IN A RURAL INDIAN COMMUNITY IN CANADA IS CONDUCTED BASED ON INTERVIEWS WITH FAMILY AND NEIGHBORS PLUS HOSPITAL AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE DATA.
Abstract
ALL VICTIMS WERE CANADIAN INDIAN AND GAVE WARNING OF THEIR SUICIDAL INTENT. THE MAJORITY WERE MALE (FIVE), USED FIREARMS AS THE MODE OF SUICIDE (SIX), KILLED THEMSELVES NEAR OR IN THE PARENTAL HOME (SIX), AND HAD CLEARLY CONSUMED ALCOHOL IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO DEATH (SIX). THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF A FAMILY BACKGROUND INVOLVING A LARGE NUMBER OF INADEQUATE CARETAKERS, ALTHOUGH ALL CAME FROM LARGE FAMILIES, AND PARENTAL ILLNESS OR LOSS WAS EXPERIENCED BY FIVE OF THE VICTIMS. ONLY TWO HAD RECEIVED PREVIOUS PSYCHIATRIC TREATMENT, AND ONLY THREE HAD TRAINING SCHOOL OR ARREST RECORDS. ALL OF THE VICTIMS APPEARED TO BE SOCIALLY ISOLATED, HAD POOR SELF-ESTEEM, AND LACKED COMMUNICATIONS AND INTERPERSONAL RELATIONS SKILLS. THESE FACTORS CONTRIBUTED TO THE VICTIMS' VULNERABILITY AND EXCESSIVE DEPENDENCY ON THE PARENTAL FAMILY. THEY ALSO SHOWED AN INABILITY TO COPE WITH CONFLICT AND STRESS, USING WITHDRAWAL, INTERNALIZATION, AND ALCOHOL ABUSE TO COPE WITH FRUSTRATION. NOTICEABLE ACCULTURATION INTO INDUSTRIAL/TECHNOLOGICAL SOCIETY HAS BROUGHT A CONCOMMITTANT LOOSENING OF SOCIAL BONDS WITH A LOSS OF TRADITIONAL VALUES AND FAMILY INFLUENCE IN THIS COMMUNITY. THIS HAS PRODUCED A STATE OF ANOMIE WITH SUBSEQUENT INCREASES IN SUICIDE, HOMICIDE, AND VIOLENT DEATH ON THE RESERVE. THE OCCURRENCE OF THESE 8 SUICIDES WITHIN A SINGLE 12-MONTH PERIOD IN A COMMUNITY OF ONLY 37 FAMILIES MAKES THE ANNUAL SUICIDE RATE FOR THIS POPULATION ASTRONOMICAL. SOCIOCULTURAL ANOMIE COUPLED WITH THE VULNERABLE PERSONALITIES OF THE VICTIMS RESULTED IN EPIDEMIC INCIDENCE OF SUICIDE. (JAP)