Page 59 - JCBP-3-1

Journal of Clinical and
Basic Psychosomatics Addressing Indigenous youth suicides in Victoria

optimistic about life, approximately one-third suffered is 8 times more likely to qualify for child protection services
from psychological distress, and almost 30% experienced than a non-Aboriginal child. Aboriginal Victorians are
bullying that impacted their sense of well-being. In 4 times more likely to be homeless than non-Aboriginal
3
addition, Aboriginal youth were thrice more likely to people. Moreover, Aboriginal people aged above 18 years
experience homelessness than their non-Aboriginal peers. 3 use tobacco 3 times more than non-Aboriginal people.

Suicides are also 3 times higher among Aboriginal youth Furthermore, Aboriginal Victorians are more than
under 18 than among other young Australians. This rate 4 times more likely than other Victorians to visit medical
becomes 12 times higher than other Australians if we only emergency facilities for alcohol-related reasons. Further,
4
consider young people aged below 15 years. This section Aboriginal Victorians are approximately 3 times more
of Aboriginal youth exhibits poor educational attainment likely to suffer from severe or extreme emotional distress
and employment, experiences forced cultural and housing- than members of other communities. 8
related displacements, perceives discrimination, and lives 3. Needs and issues related to Aboriginal
in poverty from youth to adulthood. The traumas and
cycle of poor attachment continue from adolescence to mental health
adulthood for the First Nations people because they lack Dickson’s systematic review revealed elevated rates of
stability in early life. Transgenerational trauma stemming suicide, self-harm, and suicidal ideation in Indigenous
from historical abuse and forced displacement is often an youth vis-à-vis the non-Indigenous population. Common
underlying factor in youth suicides. 5 risk factors for suicides by Indigenous youth include a
In 2021, Victoria registered a 75% increase in suicide history of incarceration, substance use, and more significant
10
among the First Nations people compared to previous social and emotional distress. Heard’s qualitative study
years. Places in regional Victoria such as Mildura and explored discrete themes underlying perceived barriers
6
Shepperton reported the highest suicide frequencies. to implementing suicide prevention strategies and
Coroner’s reports reveal that Aboriginal and Torres reported perceived powerlessness, skill deficiencies, lack of
Strait Islander people in Victoria died by suicide at a resilience apropos factual discussions, perceived absence
rate three and a half times higher than non-Indigenous of professional support, and other systemic issues as
people between 2018 and 2021. Some themes related to commonplace themes. 11
deaths by suicide have emerged in recent years: anxieties Cox conducted a focus group discussion and reported
resulting from suicide committed by a member of a that mentoring, cultural values, and community cohesion
close-knit community, the absence of support for people were vital for the health and well-being of Indigenous
struggling with substance abuse, and increasing incidents communities. Nasir and Kiseley’s community consultation
12
of incarceration, domestic violence, loneliness, or failed study highlighted factors that were counterproductive for
relationships. The coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) suicide prevention programs in remote communities:
pandemic and multiple lockdowns negatively affected inconsistencies in the content and delivery of gatekeeper
the mental health of Aboriginal youth. Several suicide training, time-consuming and unsustainable programs,
6
prevention strategies are being implemented but suicides and irrelevant materials. Societies must focus on the
among Aboriginal youth continue to rise. As the Ottawa social, emotional, cultural, and spiritual underpinnings of
Charter suggests, integrating social, cultural, family, community well-being in developing suicide prevention
community, and personal factors will result in a better strategies. Existing cross-cultural studies have identified
13
understanding of the prevailing problem. 7 some common themes associated with youth suicides, for
Thus, this study aims to deliver a snapshot of the present instance, poor mental health literacy, cultural issues, lack
circumstances related to suicides by Aboriginal youth. of access, high stigma, unstable finances, and housing. 14
It also attempts to outline the engagement of potential Varied difficulties have been pinpointed to underpin
stakeholders to prevent suicides. the high suicide rates among Aboriginal youth in Victoria.

2. Health profile of the Victorian Aboriginal The extant research suggests that 90% of Aboriginal people
with mental health issues have expressed suicidal ideas
and Torres Strait Islander people in the last 12 months. Furthermore, mental health issues,
Children born to Victorian Aboriginal mothers are twice including depression, have been detected in 90% of the
as likely to register low birth weights as babies born to non- population of individuals who have attempted suicide.
6,15
Aboriginal mothers. A Victorian Aboriginal woman is Females are more likely to attempt suicide but males have
8
45 times more likely to experience domestic violence than a higher rate of suicide deaths. Young people who do
a non-Aboriginal woman. An Aboriginal child in Victoria not conform to conventional gender roles are at greater
9
Volume 3 Issue 1 (2025) 53 doi: 10.36922/jcbp.4217