Acting On What We Know: Preventing Youth Suicide in First Nations

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Table of Contents

• Executive Summary
• Section 1
  • Acting on What We Know: Preventing Youth Suicide in First Nations
    • Introduction
    • Background: Suicide Prevention Advisory Group
    • Methodology
    • Description of this Report
• Section 2
  • Introduction to the Issue
    • Introduction
    • Key Suicide Data
      • First Nations Youth Suicide Rates are High
      • Suicides are Increasing in Some Communities
      • Suicide Rates Differ by Tribal Council and Language Group
      • Suicides Vary by Cultural Continuity Factors
      • Youth Suicide Rates Differ by Gender
      • Rates of Depression and Acute Stress are High in First Nations
      • Home is Not a Safe Haven for Many First Nations Youth
    • Recurring Themes in the Literature
    • Medicalization and the Need for Health Partnerships between Biomedical Approaches and Traditional Healing
    • The Stigma of Emotional and Psychological Distress
    • Suicide May Occur More Often in Marginalized Groups
    • Gender Differences: Why First Nations Suicide Occurs More Often in Males
    • De-politicizing the Issue and Politicizing Youth
    • Conclusion
• Section 3
  • Part 1: Putting Forward an Evidence-Based Approach to Prevention
    • Research on Current Aboriginal Suicide Prevention Programs
    • Current Prevention Practices: Primary, Secondary, ("Intervention"), and Tertiary ("Postvention")
    • Elements of Effective Suicide Prevention Programs
      • The Role of Health Professionals
      • School-Based Strategies
      • Community-based Strategies
    • Guidelines for Effective Suicide Prevention
    • Recommended Guidelines
      • Orientation
      • Coordination
      • Prevention
      • Intervention
      • Postvention
      • Evaluation
    • Summary and Objectives
    • Recommendations
  • Part 2: Toward Effective, Integrated Health Care at National and Regional Levels
    • Description of Existing Programs
    • Problems with Existing Programs
    • Roots of the Problem
    • Solutions
    • Summary and Objectives
    • Recommendations
  • Part 3: The Importance of Community-Driven Approaches
    • Introduction
    • Why Engage the Community
      • Broad in Scope and Tailored to the Needs of the Community
      • Deal with the Underlying Causes of Suicide
      • Involve all Stages and Levels of Prevention
      • Meaningful Involvement of Youth
    • How Best to Engage the Community
    • Summary and Objectives
    • Recommendations
  • Part 4: Identity, Resilience & Culture
    • Identity
    • Resilience
    • Culture
    • Spirituality
    • Summary and Objectives
    • Recommendations
• Section 4
  • Concluding Remarks
• References
• Appendix A
  • Suicide Prevention Advisory Group - Member Profiles
• Appendix B
  • Suicide Prevention Advisory Group - Terms of Reference
• Appendix C
  • List of Documents Reviewed
• Appendix D
  • Research on Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Promotion in First Nations Communities
• Appendix E
  • An Analysis of NIHB-Funded Mental Health Services: Implications for First Nations Youth Suicide
• Appendix F
  • Community Crisis Assessment Guideline
• Appendix G
  • Community Development
• Appendix H
  • Recommended Administrative Infrastructure to Support Demonstration Projects
• Appendix I
  • Glossary of Terms