Suicidality in a Sample of Arctic Households |
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| Authors: | John M. Haggarty MD Zack Cernovsky PhD Michel Bedard PhD Harold Merskey MD |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Associate Professor, Northern Ontario School of Medicine in Thunder Bay;2. Professor, Department of Psychiatry at the University of Western Ontario in London;3. Associate Professor, Public Health Program at Lakehead University in Thunder Bay;4. Professor Emeritus, Department of Psychiatry at the University of Western Ontario. |
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| Abstract: | 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. |
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