Suicide Ideation and Attempts among First Nations Peoples Living On-Reserve in Canada: The Intergenerational and Cumulative Effects of Indian Residential Schools

Objective: Suicide rates among Indigenous peoples in Canada are at least twice that of their non-Indigenous counterparts. Although contemporary stressors contribute to this increased risk, historical experiences such as the Indian Residential School (IRS) system may also have continuing links with the risk for suicidal thoughts and behaviors. The current investigation examined the intergenerational and cumulative links between familial IRS attendance in relation to lifetime suicide ideation and attempts among First Nations adults living on-reserve. Method: Data from the 2008-2010 First Nations Regional Health Survey were analyzed, and participants comprised a representative sample of First Nations adults older than 18 years (weighted N = 127,338; IRS attendees were excluded). Of those who knew their familial IRS history, 38.0% had no history of attendance, 19.3% had a grandparent who attended, 16.2% had a parent who attended, and 26.5% had a parent and grandparent who attended. Results: Exposure of one previous familial generation to the IRS experience was associated with increased risk for lifetime suicide ideation (odds ratio [OR], 1.46; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.16 to 1.84; P = 0.001) and attempts (OR, 1.44; 95% CI, 1.07 to 1.94; P < 0.016) compared with those with no IRS history. Having 2 generations of IRS familial history was associated with greater odds of reporting a suicide attempt compared with having one generation (OR, 1.35; 95% CI, 1.05 to 1.75; P = 0.022), which was reduced when current levels of distress and ideation were accounted for. Conclusion: Findings support the existence of linkages between intergenerational exposure to IRS and risk for suicidal ideation and attempts and for a potential cumulative risk in relation to suicide attempts across generations.

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Association of firearm exposure during youth with lifetime incidence of suicide ideation and suicide attempts

10.21203/rs.3.rs-199622/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Craig J. Bryan ◽

AnnaBelle O. Bryan ◽

Michael D. Anestis

Keyword(s):

Suicide Attempt ◽

Suicide Ideation ◽

Suicide Attempts ◽

Preliminary Evidence ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Lifetime History ◽

Firearm Availability ◽

Childhood Home ◽

History Of ◽

Suicidal Thoughts And Behaviors

Abstract Background: Preliminary evidence suggests firearm availability may increase the risk for suicide ideation and attempts, two common precursors to suicide death. Little is known about which aspects of firearm availability may account for this association. The primary purpose of this study was to examine associations among multiple dimensions of firearm availability with lifetime history of suicide ideation and attempts.Methods: A cross-sectional, anonymous survey was administered to 6200 U.S. adults from March 5, 2020, to March 17, 2020. Participants were asked to report firearm availability, firearm use, and suicidal thoughts and behaviors over the lifespan. Results: Rates of lifetime suicide ideation were significantly elevated among participants reporting a firearm in their childhood home (odds ratio [OR]=1.3, 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.1-1.5). Rates of lifetime suicide attempt were significantly elevated among participants reporting a firearm in their childhood home (OR=1.8, 95% CI=1.5-2.2) and participants who first acquired a firearm before the age of 11 (OR=3.8, 95% CI=2.6-5.8). Among participant with a lifetime history of suicide ideation, rates of lifetime suicide attempt were significantly elevated among participants who first acquired a firearm before the age of 11 (OR=3.0, 95% CI=1.4-6.4), but this relationship was no longer significant when adjusting for demographics and negative affectivity (OR=2.4, 95% CI=0.96-6.0). Conclusions: Adults who were raised in a home with a firearm and/or first acquired a firearm were significantly more likely to have attempted suicide during their lives. Additional research examining the mechanisms by which early life firearm exposure might increase suicide risk across the lifespan is warranted.

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Reasons for Living and Suicide Attempts Among Young Adults With Lifetime Suicide Ideation

Crisis ◽

10.1027/0227-5910/a000705 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-7

Author(s):

Kirsten Christensen ◽

Melanie A. Hom ◽

Ian H. Stanley ◽

Thomas E. Joiner

Keyword(s):

Young Adults ◽

Suicide Attempt ◽

Suicide Ideation ◽

Suicide Attempts ◽

Protective Effects ◽

Student Sample ◽

Reasons For Living ◽

History Of ◽

Suicidal Thoughts And Behaviors ◽

The Relationship

Abstract. Background: Previous work suggests that reasons for living (RFL) are associated with suicide ideation; however, the relationship between RFL and suicide attempts among individuals with suicide ideation remains unclear. Such an examination is necessary to delineate whether RFL are associated with suicide attempts above and beyond their association with suicide ideation. Aims: This study examined the relationship between RFL and suicide attempts among young adults with a lifetime history of suicide ideation. Method: Undergraduate students ( N = 163) completed surveys assessing demographics, suicidal thoughts and behaviors, and RFL. Results: Individuals with a history of both suicide ideation and attempt reported significantly lower RFL than individuals with a history of suicide ideation but no suicide attempt. Among individual RFL-YA subscales, only Coping Beliefs was significantly associated with a suicide attempt history. Limitations: The cross-sectional nature of this study precludes any conclusions about the potential protective effects of RFL against suicide attempts, and the college student sample limits generalizability of the findings. Conclusion: Further research is needed to understand whether RFL prospectively predict suicide attempts among individuals with suicide ideation and whether interventions that bolster RFL might reduce suicide risk.

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Comportamento Suicidário nos Internos de Psiquiatria em Portugal: Comparação com a Realidade Europeia

Acta Médica Portuguesa ◽

10.20344/amp.6038 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 28 (5) ◽

pp. 608

Author(s):

João Gama Marques ◽

Alice Roberto ◽

Cátia Guerra ◽

Mariana Pinto da Costa ◽

Anja Podlesek ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Suicidal Ideation ◽

Suicide Ideation ◽

Suicide Attempts ◽

Active Form ◽

Final Analysis ◽

Burnout Syndrome ◽

Completed Suicide ◽

Anonymous Questionnaire ◽

Adult Psychiatry ◽

History Of

Introduction: The aim of this paper was to assess the prevalence of suicide ideation and attempts in Portuguese psychiatry trainees (adult and child and adolescence), and compare the data with the general population and other European countries. Material and Methods: A structured and anonymous questionnaire was sent by email to 159 portuguese trainees of adult psychiatry and child and adolescence psychiatry with questions about personal history of suicidal ideation and suicide attempts, as well as family history of suicide attempts and completed suicides. This is part of the BoSS Study (Burnout Syndrome Study) performed in 21 countries worldwide. Data was analysed in SPSS v.19. Results: From the inquired population, 62 trainees (40,3%) partially responded, and 46 (29%) were complete responders - these entered the final analysis. There was a ratio of 2:1 (female:male) and a mean age of 29 years. The suicidal ideation was present in passive form in 44% and in active form in 33%; also, 4.3% of respondents had previous suicide attempts. In first degree relatives, 22% had attempted suicide and 13% completed suicide. Discussion: The results are worriying and may be associated with some factors to which this population is exposed. Conclusion: It is necessary further research to better understand this phenomenon, its causes and potential modifiers.

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Jordan’s Principle: Reconciliation and the First Nations Child

Constitutional Forum / Forum constitutionnel ◽

10.21991/cf29369 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 27 (1) ◽

pp. 3-12

Author(s):

Colleen Sheppard

Keyword(s):

Child Welfare ◽

First Nations ◽

Indigenous Peoples ◽

Residential Schools ◽

Truth And Reconciliation Commission ◽

Child Welfare Services ◽

Reconciliation Commission ◽

Truth And Reconciliation ◽

Nations Child ◽

The Individual

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC) was mandated to “document the individual and collective harms” of residential schools and to “guide and inspire a process of truth and healing, leading toward reconciliation.” The stories of survivors revealed the intergenerational and egregious harms of taking children from their families and communities. In seeking to redress the legacy of the residential schools era, the TRC Calls to Action include greater recognition of self-governance of Indigenous Peoples, as well as numerous recommendations for equitable funding of health, educational, and child welfare services.

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Examining Time Perspective Orientation in Suicide Ideation and Suicide Attempts

Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology ◽

10.1521/jscp.2019.38.7.627 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 38 (8) ◽

pp. 627-646

Author(s):

Arezoo Shahnaz ◽

Boaz Y. Saffer ◽

E. David Klonsky

Keyword(s):

Psychological Functioning ◽

Suicide Risk ◽

Time Perspective ◽

Suicide Ideation ◽

Suicide Attempts ◽

Time Perspectives ◽

The Past ◽

History Of ◽

Negative Orientation ◽

Two Measures

Introduction: Time perspective orientation (TPO) refers to the way an individual psychologically and behaviorally connects to temporal concepts of past, present, and future. Previous studies have hypothesized that certain types of time perspectives, such as a negative orientation towards the past, predict negative psychological functioning and outcomes, including suicide risk. The current study examines whether differences in TPOs are linked to suicidal thoughts or suicidal acts using two measures of time perspective. Methods: We recruited a large online U.S.-based sample comprised of three groups: participants with (a) a history of suicide attempts (attempters; n = 107), (b) a history of suicide ideation but no history of attempts (ideators; n = 164), and (c) no history of ideation or attempts (nonsuicidal; n = 194). Results: A Positive Past (d = 0.71) and Negative Past (d = 0.89) orientation yielded large differences between individuals with a history of suicide ideation and nonsuicidal participants, where Positive Past was elevated among nonsuicidal participants and Negative Past among ideators. These differences were not accounted for by depression or anxiety. However, TPO differences between individuals with a history of suicide ideation and individuals with a history of attempts ranged from negligible to small (d range = 0.03—0.33). Discussion: The findings suggest that time perspective may be robustly associated with the development of suicide ideation, but only minimally related to suicide attempts among ideators.

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Assimilation and Partition: How Settler Colonialism and Racial Capitalism Co-produce the Borders of Indigenous Economies

South Atlantic Quarterly ◽

10.1215/00382876-8177771 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 119 (2) ◽

pp. 301-324

Author(s):

Shiri Pasternak

Keyword(s):

First Nations ◽

Indigenous Peoples ◽

Supreme Court Of Canada ◽

Critical Material ◽

Aboriginal Rights ◽

Economic Rights ◽

Racial Capitalism ◽

The Status ◽

History Of ◽

Settler Colonization

The history of colonialism in Canada has meant both the partition of Indigenous peoples from participating (physically, politically, legally) in the economy and a relentless demand to become assimilated as liberal capitalist citizens. Assimilation and segregation are both tendencies of colonization that protect the interests of white capital. But their respective prevalence seems to depend on the regime of racial capitalism at play. This paper examines the intersection of settler colonization and racial capitalism to shed light on the status of Indigenous economic rights in Canada. I ask, to what extent are Indigenous peoples understood to have economic rights—defined here as the governing authority to manage their lands and resources—and, how we can we analyze these rights to better understand the conjoined meanings of colonialism and capitalism as systems of power today? In this paper, I look at two sites to address this problem: first, I examine how the Supreme Court of Canada has defined the “Aboriginal right” to commercial economies since the patriation of Aboriginal rights into the Constitution in 1982; and, second, I examine how these rights are configured through state resource revenue-sharing schemes with First Nations, in particular from extractive projects, over the past few years. Each case study provides critical material for analyzing the economic opportunities available to First Nations through democratic channels of state “recognition,” as well as when and why tensions between state policies of segregation and assimilation emerge.

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Born the Year after the Flood

South Atlantic Quarterly ◽

10.1215/00382876-7825738 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 118 (4) ◽

pp. 921-927

Author(s):

Jeremie Caribou

Keyword(s):

First Nations ◽

Indigenous Peoples ◽

Ecological Integrity ◽

Indigenous Rights ◽

Indigenous Identity ◽

Indigenous Lands ◽

History Of ◽

The Right ◽

Political Governance ◽

Gain Access

This essay reveals the true history of my people. It demonstrates our highly developed social, spiritual, and political governance structures. Our use of the water systems underscores the ecological integrity of sustainable development that we fostered for thousands of years. Yet, due to colonization and oppressive policies designed to destroy Indigenous identity, culture, and history, Indigenous knowledge and governing systems have been put in jeopardy. Colonial policies intended to dispossess and oppress First Nations by depriving us from Indigenous lands, controlling all aspects of our lives, which created dependence by limiting Indigenous peoples’ abilities to provide for themselves. Furthermore, these policies had no Indigenous input or representation and were designed to eradicate or eliminate Indigenous rights, titles, and the right to self-determination to easily gain access to Indigenous lands for development and industrialization, such as in the case of the massive hydroelectrical dams that continue to alienate my home community today.

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Increased risk of attempted suicide in Australian veterans is associated with total and permanent incapacitation, unemployment and posttraumatic stress disorder severity

Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry ◽

10.1177/0004867417718945 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 52 (6) ◽

pp. 552-560 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Katelyn Kerr ◽

Madeline Romaniuk ◽

Sarah McLeay ◽

Andrew Khoo ◽

Michael T Dent ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder ◽

Suicide Attempt ◽

Posttraumatic Stress ◽

Attempted Suicide ◽

Suicide Attempts ◽

Stress Disorder ◽

Self Report ◽

Depression Symptoms ◽

Increased Risk ◽

History Of

Background: Military veterans have higher rates of suicidality and completed suicides compared to the general population. Previous research has demonstrated suicidal behaviour is higher in US combat veterans who are younger, suffer from posttraumatic stress disorder, depression and anxiety and score lower on measures of health. However, research on predictors of suicide for Australian veterans is limited. The aim of this study was to identify significant demographic and psychological differences between veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder who had attempted suicide and those with posttraumatic stress disorder who had not, as well as determine predictors of suicide attempts within an Australian cohort. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 229 ex-service personnel diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder who had attended a Military Service Trauma Recovery Day Program as outpatients at Toowong Private Hospital from 2007 to 2014. Patients completed a battery of mental health self-report questionnaires assessing symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder, alcohol use, anger, depression, anxiety and quality of life. Demographic information and self-reported history of suicide attempts were also recorded. Results: Results indicated the average age was significantly lower, and the rates of posttraumatic stress disorder, anger, anxiety and depression symptoms were significantly higher in those veterans with history of a suicide attempt. Multivariate logistic regression analyses indicated posttraumatic stress disorder symptom severity, unemployment or total and permanent incapacity pension status significantly predicted suicide attempt history. Conclusion: Among a cohort of Australian veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder, psychopathology severity, unemployment and total and permanent incapacity status are significantly associated with suicidality. This study highlights the importance of early identification of posttraumatic stress disorder and psychopathology, therapeutic and social engagement, and prioritisation of tangible employment options or meaningful and goal-directed activities for veterans deemed unable to work.

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Suicide Ideation and Attempts in Children With Psychiatric Disorders and Typical Development

Crisis ◽

10.1027/0227-5910/a000284 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 36 (1) ◽

pp. 55-60 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Susan Dickerson Mayes ◽

Susan L. Calhoun ◽

Raman Baweja ◽

Fauzia Mahr

Keyword(s):

Children And Adolescents ◽

Psychiatric Disorders ◽

Suicide Risk ◽

Suicide Ideation ◽

Suicide Attempts ◽

Typical Development ◽

Oppositional Defiant ◽

Suicide Behavior ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Inattentive Type

Background: Children and adolescents with psychiatric disorders are at increased risk for suicide behavior. Aims: This is the first study to compare frequencies of suicide ideation and attempts in children and adolescents with specific psychiatric disorders and typical children while controlling for comorbidity and demographics. Method: Mothers rated the frequency of suicide ideation and attempts in 1,706 children and adolescents with psychiatric disorders and typical development, 6–18 years of age. Results: For the typical group, 0.5% had suicide behavior (ideation or attempts), versus 24% across the psychiatric groups (bulimia 48%, depression or anxiety disorder 34%, oppositional defiant disorder 33%, ADHD-combined type 22%, anorexia 22%, autism 18%, intellectual disability 17%, and ADHD-inattentive type 8%). Most alarming, 29% of adolescents with bulimia often or very often had suicide attempts, compared with 0–4% of patients in the other psychiatric groups. Conclusion: It is important for professionals to routinely screen all children and adolescents who have psychiatric disorders for suicide ideation and attempts and to treat the underlying psychiatric disorders that increase suicide risk.

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Financial Strain, Suicidal Thoughts, and Suicidal Behavior Among US Military Personnel in the National Guard

Crisis ◽

10.1027/0227-5910/a000592 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 40 (6) ◽

pp. 437-445

Author(s):

Craig J. Bryan ◽

AnnaBelle O. Bryan

Keyword(s):

Military Personnel ◽

Suicide Ideation ◽

Suicide Attempts ◽

National Guard ◽

Self Report ◽

Financial Strain ◽

Multiple Indicators ◽

Lifetime History ◽

Us Military ◽

History Of

Abstract. Background: Although financial strain is an identified risk factor for suicide among US military personnel, research is limited regarding the specific dimensions of financial strain that confer the greatest risk. Aims: The present study examined the associations among multiple indicators of financial strain, suicide ideation, and suicide attempts in a sample of US National Guard personnel, a high-risk subgroup of the US military. Method: National Guard personnel from Utah and Idaho ( n = 997) completed an anonymous online self-report survey. Weighted univariate and multivariate logistic regression was used to test hypothesized associations. Results: Lifetime history of suicide ideation was significantly more common among participants reporting recent income decrease, credit problems, and difficulty making ends meet, even when adjusting for other covariates. Lifetime history of suicide attempt was significantly associated with recent foreclosure or loan default, credit problems, and difficulty making ends meet, but only in univariate analyses. Recent credit problems were the only financial strain indicator that significantly predicted a history of suicide attempt among participants with a history of suicide ideation. Limitations: The present study includes self-report methodology and cross-sectional design. Conclusion: Although multiple indicators of financial strain are associated with increased risk for suicidal thinking among National Guard military personnel, credit problems had the strongest association with suicide attempts.

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