Suicide cases in Native American Communities

Suicide refers to the act of taking ones own life voluntarily. Both complete and attempted suicides are a common phenomenon in the United States today. American Indians and Alaska Natives youths are the most affected among all the Native American youths.  American Indians have reported increasing cases of suicide between the year 2003 and 2015. Research shows that two in every ten suicide cases among the American. Indian and Alaska Natives (AI/AN) were preceded by an argument.

Many successful and attempted suicide cases are found to have been influenced by the death of a friend. Or close relative among the American Indian and Alaska Natives. Such deaths had an odd of 2.4 times. Whereas non-suicide death of a friend or close relatives had an odd of 1.7 times. Substance abuse problems among the AI/AN decedents. Also contributed to the adolescent suicides and had an odd of 1.8 times. Among the AI/AN observed that AI/AN decedents were likely to have abused alcohol and more likely to have tested positive for marijuana and amphetamines hours before they committed suicide.

Suicide cases in Native American Communities

Suicide cases in Native American Communities The highest rate of substance abuse is among the Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islanders (NHPI), African-Americans and Asian Americans adolescents (AI/AN), and multiracial adolescents. Subica & Wu (2018) used data collected between 1991 and 2015 by the Youth Risk Behavior Surveys (YRBS). According to Subica suicidal thoughts are more often associated with the use of alcohol, cigarette, and marijuana. The AI/AN adolescents were found to be highest in matters attempted suicide among all the studied groups due to abuse of all drugs except heroin. The AI/AN youths have recorded the highest rates of suicides in the history of the U.S. compared to all other ethnic groups.

According to Grossman the risk factors of suicide among adolescents include; mental problems, alienation from family and community, exposure to suicidal attempts
by friends and family, alcohol consumption, past physical abuse, and poor general health. APA