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Gibson M, Leske S, Ward R, Weir B, Russell K, Kolves K. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth suicide mortality and previous mental health, suicidality and service use in Queensland, Australia, from 2001 to 2021. J Affect Disord 2024; 354:55-61. [PMID: 38484672 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2024.03.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2023] [Revised: 02/25/2024] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/15/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The current study aimed to compare current suicide rates, trends, previous treatment, suicidality and mental health diagnoses for First Nations and non-Indigenous young people who died by suicide. METHODS Age-specific suicide rates (ASSRs) were calculated per 100,000 persons/year using suicides aged 10-19 years in the Queensland Suicide Register. Rate Ratios (RRs) and 95 % CIs compared ASSRs for First Nations and non-Indigenous youth dying by suicide in Queensland, Australia, from 2001 to 2018. Risk ratios (RiskR) with 95 % CIs compared characteristics between First Nations and non-Indigenous youth suicides. Joinpoint regression was used to identify any changes in trends and annual percentage change (APC) in suicides with 95 % CIs. RESULTS The First Nations youth ASSR was 24.71 deaths per 100,000 persons/year, 4.5 times the non-Indigenous ASSR (95 % CI = 3.74-5.38, p < 0.001). Both non-Indigenous and First Nations suicide trends were stable with no joinpoints (APC: 0.3 %, 95 % CI: -1.6-2.2, p = 0.78; APC: 0.9 %, 95 % CI: -0.2-2.1, p = 0.11). Less than a quarter (23.9 %) of First Nations young people had ever received mental health treatment, significantly fewer than non-Indigenous youth (RiskR = 0.80, 95 % CI = 0.71-0.90, p < 0.001). Similarly, in the three months preceding their death, only 14.5 % of First Nations young people had received mental health treatment (RiskR = 0.89, 95 % CI = 0.83-97, p = 0.015). LIMITATIONS Reported mental illness, suicidality and help-seeking could be underreported due to concealment from family or police. CONCLUSIONS The current study finds no change in the gap between the First Nations and Non-Indigenous youth suicide rates nor evidence of decrease in the First Nations youth suicide rate. There is a need for alternative approaches to Indigenous youth suicide prevention, such as assertive outreach models outside of traditional triage and mental health systems to proactively build trusting relationships with young people in communities to identify young people needing support.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Gibson
- Australian Institute for Suicide Research and Prevention, WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Training in Suicide Prevention, School of Applied Psychology, Griffith University, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
| | - S Leske
- Australian Institute for Suicide Research and Prevention, WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Training in Suicide Prevention, School of Applied Psychology, Griffith University, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia; UQ Poche Centre for Indigenous Health, The University of Queensland, Toowong, Queensland, Australia
| | - R Ward
- Australian Institute for Suicide Research and Prevention, WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Training in Suicide Prevention, School of Applied Psychology, Griffith University, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia; Institute for Resilient Regions, Knowledge Broker First Nations Engagement Southern Queensland & Northern NSW Drought Resilience Adoption & Innovation Hub, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia
| | - B Weir
- Australian Institute for Suicide Research and Prevention, WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Training in Suicide Prevention, School of Applied Psychology, Griffith University, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - K Russell
- Beyond the Pale Aboriginal and Torres Strait youth mental health support services, Australia
| | - K Kolves
- Australian Institute for Suicide Research and Prevention, WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Training in Suicide Prevention, School of Applied Psychology, Griffith University, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
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De Leo D, Milner A, Fleischmann A, Bertolote J, Collings S, Amadeo S, Chan S, Yip PSF, Huang Y, Saniel B, Lilo F, Lilo C, David AM, Benavente B, Nadera D, Pompili M, Kolves KE, Kolves K, Wang X. The WHO START Study. Crisis 2013; 34:156-63. [DOI: 10.1027/0227-5910/a000193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Background: The World Health Organization (WHO) study entitled Suicide Trends in At-Risk Territories (START) is an international multisite initiative that aims to stimulate suicide research and prevention across different areas of the globe. A central component of the study is the development of registration systems for fatal and nonfatal suicidal behaviors. Aims: This paper provides an overview of the data collected on suicidal behaviors from the participating locations in the START study. Method: Descriptive statistics on the data are presented in terms of age, sex, and method. Results: A greater proportion of suicide deaths occurred among males. In all areas except the Philippines more females than males engaged in nonfatal suicidal behaviors. Compared to Australia, Italy, New Zealand, the Philippines, and Hong Kong SAR, in the Pacific Islands suicide most often occurs in younger age groups. Results indicate notable variations between countries in choice of method. A greater proportion of suicides occurred by hanging in Pacific Islands, while inhalation of carbon monoxide, use of firearms, ingestion of chemicals and poisons, and drug overdose were the most frequent methods of choice in other areas. Conclusion: The information drawn from this study demonstrates the enormous variation in suicidal behavior across the areas involved in the START Study. Further research is needed to assess the reliability of the established data-recording systems for suicidal behaviors. The baseline data established in START may allow the development of suicide prevention initiatives sensitive to variation in the profile of suicide across different locations.
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Affiliation(s)
- D. De Leo
- Australian Institute for Suicide Research and Prevention, Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia
| | - A. Milner
- Australian Institute for Suicide Research and Prevention, Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia
| | - A. Fleischmann
- Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - J. Bertolote
- Department of Neurology, Psychology and Psychiatry, Botucatu Medical School, UNESP, Botucatu, Brazil
| | - S. Collings
- Social Psychiatry and Population Mental Health Research Unit, University of Otago, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - S. Amadeo
- Department de Psychiatrie Centre Hospitalier de Polynésie Française, Tahiti, French Polynesia
| | - S. Chan
- Department of Psychiatry, Chinese University of Hong Kong, China, Hong Kong, SAR
| | - P. S. F. Yip
- The Hong Kong Jockey Club Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention, The University of Hong Kong, China, Hong Kong, SAR
| | - Y. Huang
- Institute of Mental Health, Peking University, People’s Republic of China
| | - B. Saniel
- Vila Central Hospital, Port Vila, Vanuatu
| | - F. Lilo
- Life Line and Suicide Hot Line, Tonga Life Line, Nuku’alofa, Tonga
| | - C. Lilo
- Life Line and Suicide Hot Line, Tonga Life Line, Nuku’alofa, Tonga
| | | | - B. Benavente
- Government Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse (DMHSA), Hagatna, Guam
| | - D. Nadera
- University of Philippines Open University (UPOU), Manila, The Philippines
| | - M. Pompili
- II Medical School, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy
| | - K. E. Kolves
- Australian Institute for Suicide Research and Prevention, Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia
| | - K. Kolves
- Australian Institute for Suicide Research and Prevention, Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia
| | - X. Wang
- Western Pacific Regional Office, World Health Organization, Manila, The Philippines
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