SUICIDALITY AMONG ADOLESCENT ALBERTA INDIANS

A high rate of suicide attempts and suicide ideation characterized a s ample of 229 grade 7 to 9 adolescents resident on seven reserves in ce ntral Alberta. The prevalence of suicidality for these adolescent Indi ans was very similar to rates reported for Navajo youth and for 8th- a nd 10th-grade American non-Indian students. Comparison of Indian and n on-Indian suicidality risk factors showed somewhat elevated levels of family disruption and psychological problems among Indian adolescents. Compared to Canadian nonadolescents, substance abuse levels were high , and conditions necessary to modeling were virtually omnipresent. Sui cide ideation was significantly elevated for Indian adolescents with l ow psychological well-being, no father in the home, and a prior suicid e in the household. Controlling for age, risk factors for suicide atte mpts were heavy alcohol use, no father in the home, sleeping problems, and low psychological well-being. The high rates of adolescent Native suicide imply that a much higher proportion of their suicide attempts succeed. Targeted, community-based counselling and educational progra ms are needed to address these problems.