Suicidality in a sample of Arctic households.
We investigated the association of suicidal ideation and behavior with depression, anxiety, and alcohol abuse in a Canadian Arctic Inuit community. Inuit (N = 111) from a random sample of households completed assessments of anxiety and depression, alcohol abuse, and suicidality. High rates of suicidal ideation within the past week (43.6%), and suicide attempts within last 6 months (30%), were reported. Ideation was more frequent among younger persons, whereas those favoring local native language were less likely to report a wish to die. Higher overall suicidality scores were associated with higher anxiety, and alcohol abuse, but not with depression or gender. Implications for future research are discussed.
Haggarty
John M
JM
Northern Ontario School of Medicine, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada. haggartyj@tbh.net
Cernovsky
Zack
Z
Bedard
Michel
M
Merskey
Harold
H
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D001007:Anxiety / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D001110:Arctic Regions / Q000208:ethnology; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D003863:Depression / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D004930:Inuit / Q000208:ethnology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult