Suicidality in a sample of Arctic households

Suicide Life Threat Behav. 2008 Dec;38(6):699-707. doi: 10.1521/suli.2008.38.6.699.

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.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Alcoholism / ethnology*
  • Alcoholism / psychology
  • Anxiety / ethnology*
  • Anxiety / psychology
  • Arctic Regions / ethnology
  • Canada / epidemiology
  • Depression / ethnology*
  • Depression / psychology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Inuit / ethnology*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Prevalence
  • Suicide, Attempted / ethnology*
  • Suicide, Attempted / psychology*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Young Adult