BACKGROUND: Despite the known disparity in suicide rates in Canada, there is limited information on the independent risk indicators of suicide ideation among First Nations youth living on reserve. OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence and adjusted risk indicators for suicide ideation among on-reserve First Nations youth. METHODS: Saskatoon Tribal Council (Saskatchewan) First Nations students enrolled in grades 5 through 8 who were living on reserve were asked to complete a health survey using validated questionnaires. In total, 75.3% of the students completed the survey. The study was led by the Saskatoon Tribal Council with assistance from three departments at the University of Saskatchewan (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan). RESULTS: Among on-reserve First Nations youth, 23% experienced suicide ideation within the past 12 months. In comparison, 8.5% of Saskatoon urban youth and 19% of Saskatoon urban Aboriginal youth within the same grades experienced suicide ideation. Wanting to leave home (OR 13.91 [95% CI 3.05 to 63.42]), having depressed mood (OR 2.98 [95% CI 1.16 to 7.67]) and not feeling loved (OR 3.85 [95% CI 1.49 to 9.93]) were independently associated with suicide ideation among on-reserve youth. None of the children with a father who was professionally employed reported suicide ideation. CONCLUSIONS: Understanding the independent risk indicators associated with suicide ideation among First Nations youth living on reserve will hopefully aid in appropriate interventions.
BACKGROUND: Despite the known disparity in suicide rates in Canada, there is limited information on the independent risk indicators of suicide ideation among First Nations youth living on reserve. OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence and adjusted risk indicators for suicide ideation among on-reserve First Nations youth. METHODS: Saskatoon Tribal Council (Saskatchewan) First Nations students enrolled in grades 5 through 8 who were living on reserve were asked to complete a health survey using validated questionnaires. In total, 75.3% of the students completed the survey. The study was led by the Saskatoon Tribal Council with assistance from three departments at the University of Saskatchewan (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan). RESULTS: Among on-reserve First Nations youth, 23% experienced suicide ideation within the past 12 months. In comparison, 8.5% of Saskatoon urban youth and 19% of Saskatoon urban Aboriginal youth within the same grades experienced suicide ideation. Wanting to leave home (OR 13.91 [95% CI 3.05 to 63.42]), having depressed mood (OR 2.98 [95% CI 1.16 to 7.67]) and not feeling loved (OR 3.85 [95% CI 1.49 to 9.93]) were independently associated with suicide ideation among on-reserve youth. None of the children with a father who was professionally employed reported suicide ideation. CONCLUSIONS: Understanding the independent risk indicators associated with suicide ideation among First Nations youth living on reserve will hopefully aid in appropriate interventions.
Authors: R A King; M Schwab-Stone; A J Flisher; S Greenwald; R A Kramer; S H Goodman; B B Lahey; D Shaffer; M S Gould Journal: J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry Date: 2001-07 Impact factor: 8.829
Authors: Mark Lemstra; Cory Neudorf; Johan Mackenbach; Carl D'Arcy; Christina Scott; Tanis Kershaw; Ushasri Nannapaneni Journal: Paediatr Child Health Date: 2008-04 Impact factor: 2.253