September 10 is World Suicide Prevention Day. It is estimated that around the world nearly one million people per year die by suicide. According to the World Health Organisation the figure is at least 800,000 people lost to suicide each year. This translates to a death by suicide every 40 seconds, more than 3,000 suicides per day. For every suicide the World Health Organisation estimates there are at least twenty failed suicide attempts. Therefore someone attempts to take their life every three seconds. In disaggregating statistics, the human narrative bespeaks solemnly, with First Nations people suiciding at much higher rates, with impoverished peoples suiciding at horrific rates.
Suicide is also underreported and underestimated, with many suicides unclassified because of inconclusive findings by coroners, and because many suicides have not been reported to various authorities as suicides and instead have been reported as accidents. Disadvantaged communities include minority groups, different language groups, impoverished communities, and these factors are more pronounced in remote living communities. Australia’s First Nations people die by suicide at the nation’s highest rate, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics at 1 in 24 of all First Nations deaths per annum but independent research estimates that it could be twice as high as this rate.
Globally, suicide is the most common cause of death for people aged 15 years to 24 years. More people die from suicide than from murder and war.
According to the World Health Organisation suicide accounts for nearly half of all violent deaths in the world.
Poverty contributes as a stressor and poorer countries rank worst with high suicide trends. The disaggregation of data demonstrates that poverty is a significant factor. Impoverished communities in developed nations must be identified as many such communities will report clusters or a high prevalence of suicides. Guyana has the highest rate of suicide with 44.2 out of every 100,000, with North and South Korea next. Australia’s Kimberley region has a high rate of suicide at 36.9 out of every 100,000. The Kimberley has a population of 42,000, with nearly half the population comprised of First Nations people. The Kimberley, standalone, tragically competes with the world’s highest suicide rates. The Kimberley’s First Nations people, standalone, tragically outstrips the overall suicide rates of the world’s nations. First Nations people in the Kimberley endure suicide rates that tragically compete with the highest trends in the world. Australian First Nations males aged 25 years to 29 years endure a suicide rate of 91 per 100,000.
Seventy-five per cent of suicides around the world are attributed to people from poor backgrounds. In the Kimberley, this attribution, though not a sole factor, is close to 100 per cent. Seven per cent of the Kimberley is homeless, with 90 per cent of this homelessness comprised of First Nations people.
First Nations (Indigenous or Aboriginal) peoples all around the world have among the highest rates of suicide when national data is disaggregated. They have fallen victim to various oppression because of colonialisation, have endured intergenerational traumas, endure disproportionate poverty, many languish in abject impoverishment, they endure assaults on their cultural integrity and on their right to enjoy and manage their historical identities contemporaneously.
Suicide is also the result of associations to high and low expectations, to a sense of failure, from a sense of loss, from various disengagement from a sense of meaningfulness, from a sense that one is being persistently bullied and harassed to the point that one’s identity becomes a liability. Suicide is cumulative, originating in the psychosocial and often journeys through psychological and psychiatric disorders. Suicide prevention care plans acknowledge the impacts of various inequalities between people, the need to relieve poverty, the need to empower people, the need for ‘voice’, that people need the support of people, that identity should not be a liability and that all people have a right to self-determination.
– Gerry Georgatos is a researcher in premature deaths, unnatural deaths, suicides and in suicide prevention.
More reading on suicides and suicide prevention by Gerry Georgatos – published in The Stringer, and many of these published in The National Indigenous Times and in other publications:
Print/Online:
http://thestringer.com.au/wes-morris-urges-funding-for-cultural-methodologies-8009#.VAf-tvmSyaU July 12, 2014
http://thestringer.com.au/suicides-crisis-linked-to-incarceration-8117#.VAf-cvmSyaU June 25, 2014
http://thestringer.com.au/working-together-mental-health-and-suicide-prevention-roundtable-7950#.VAf9pPmSyaU June 24, 2014
http://thestringer.com.au/break-the-taboo-around-suicides-we-reduce-suicides-7922#.VAf9zPmSyaU June 14, 2014
http://thestringer.com.au/suicide-crises-born-of-australias-inhumanity-7784#.VAf-D_mSyaU June 4, 2014
http://thestringer.com.au/suicides-children-7775#.VAf-KvmSyaU June 4, 2014
http://thestringer.com.au/from-my-fathers-death-bed-to-the-must-do-to-end-the-suicides-7669#.VAf81PmSyaU May 24, 2014
http://thestringer.com.au/governments-promise-on-ending-suicides-must-come-good-now-7532#.VAf9DfmSyaU May 14, 2014
http://thestringer.com.au/more-confirmation-of-what-everyone-knows-was-suicide-prevention-inadequate-7433#.VAf9SvmSyaU May 8, 2014
http://thestringer.com.au/the-must-do-need-to-listen-and-trust-if-suicides-crisis-is-to-end-7389#.VAf9avmSyaU May 4, 2014
http://thestringer.com.au/scullion-bent-on-saving-lives-7223#.VAf7v_mSyaU April 18, 2014
http://thestringer.com.au/elders-across-australia-say-governments-need-to-listen-to-them-on-how-to-address-youth-suicide-7157#.VAf7-fmSyaU April 15, 2014
http://thestringer.com.au/suicides-western-society-and-ancient-cultures-clash-7090#.VAf8JvmSyaU April 9, 2014
http://thestringer.com.au/if-we-are-serious-about-suicide-prevention-7081#.VAf8PvmSyaU April 8, 2014
http://thestringer.com.au/australias-suicide-crisis-should-not-be-played-down-the-media-must-highlight-it-7028#.VAf8bPmSyaU April 4, 2014
http://thestringer.com.au/australias-suicide-crises-and-my-meeting-with-federal-minister-nigel-scullion-7012#.VAf8jfmSyaU April 2, 2014
http://thestringer.com.au/hundreds-more-will-suicide-if-we-wait-for-2015-6870#.VAf6-vmSyaU March 15, 2014
http://thestringer.com.au/nothing-will-be-done-about-suicides-crisis-6827#.VAf7WfmSyaU March 8, 2014
http://thestringer.com.au/suicide-crisis-from-tragic-to-catastrophic-6568#.VAf6d_mSyaU February 6, 2014
http://thestringer.com.au/suicide-crisis-genocidal-numbers-6580#.VAf6WfmSyaU February 8, 2014
http://thestringer.com.au/suicide-crisis-needs-real-funding-and-actions-6520#.VAf6sfmSyaU February 2, 2014
http://thestringer.com.au/tumult-of-death-400-suicides-in-last-three-years-6408#.VAf5p_mSyaU January 25, 2014
http://thestringer.com.au/30-suicides-in-the-last-three-months-as-we-wait-for-promises-to-be-kept-6335#.VAf51_mSyaU January 14, 2014
http://thestringer.com.au/despite-whats-being-reported-life-expectancy-not-improving-for-atsi-peoples-1-in-3-dead-by-45-years-of-age-5796#.VAf5WPmSyaU December 7, 2013
http://thestringer.com.au/wa-government-supports-end-to-suicide-crisis-but-ironically-cuts-funding-5530#.VAf4WPmSyaU November 15, 2013
http://thestringer.com.au/close-the-gap-failed-5386#.VAf4jPmSyaU November 9, 2013
http://thestringer.com.au/in-identity-lay-the-answers-atsi-suicides-5259#.VAf2VfmSyaU October 31, 2013
http://thestringer.com.au/25-4-billion-spent-on-aboriginal-disadvantage-is-a-lie-5224#.VAf2e_mSyaU October 26, 2013
http://thestringer.com.au/beagle-bay-to-state-parliament-farrer-speaks-out-on-suicides-5198#.VAf2o_mSyaU October 25, 2013
http://thestringer.com.au/government-to-address-aboriginal-suicides-5158#.VAf2wfmSyaU October 22, 2013
http://thestringer.com.au/empowerment-5120#.VAf28PmSyaU October 19, 2013
http://thestringer.com.au/996-aboriginal-deaths-by-suicide-another-shameful-australian-record-5074#.VAf3HvmSyaU October 13, 2013
http://thestringer.com.au/996-deaths-by-suicide-one-in-24-die-by-suicide-5040#.VAf3QvmSyaU October 9, 2013
http://thestringer.com.au/macklin-said-we-will-take-child-suicides-seriously-5019#.VAf3bfmSyaU October 5, 2013
http://thestringer.com.au/australias-aboriginal-suicide-epidemic-whose-child-will-be-the-next-to-die-5001#.VAf3j_mSyaU October 4, 2013
http://thestringer.com.au/77-aboriginal-suicides-in-south-australia-alone-4994#.VAf3pvmSyaU October 4, 2013
http://thestringer.com.au/kimberleys-aboriginal-peoples-old-at-45-years-4989?doing_wp_cron=1409808324.1812610626220703125000#.VAf3xPmSyaU October 3, 2014
http://thestringer.com.au/wes-morris-slams-government-suicide-prevention-programs-4977#.VAf1qfmSyaU September 30, 2013
http://thestringer.com.au/how-many-more-suicides-will-it-take-how-many-more-deaths-4920#.VAf1z_mSyaU September 20, 2013
http://thestringer.com.au/hopelessness-in-suicide-riddled-communities-4836#.VAf1-_mSyaU September 12, 2013
http://thestringer.com.au/australias-aboriginal-children-the-worlds-highest-suicide-rate-926#.VAf1bvmSyaU August 3, 2013
http://thestringer.com.au/culture-should-not-be-denied-change-needs-unfolding-not-impost-4215#.VAf00PmSyaU July 15, 2013
http://thestringer.com.au/suicide-attempts-among-women-on-the-rise-2-3262#.VAfzevmSyaU May 31, 2013
http://thestringer.com.au/the-federal-government-is-not-listening-while-people-die-3276#.VAfzWfmSyaU May 31, 2013
http://thestringer.com.au/political-reaction-needed-to-end-suicides-2995#.VAfzpPmSyaU May 24, 2013
http://thestringer.com.au/dumbartung-convenes-suicide-crisis-summit-2318#.VAfy1vmSyaU April 26, 2013
http://thestringer.com.au/quality-of-life-for-australians-2nd-only-to-norway-but-for-aboriginal-peoples-122nd-1345#.VAfybPmSyaU March 16, 2013
http://thestringer.com.au/people-are-not-the-property-of-people-the-northern-territory-is-a-prison-built-brick-by-brick-by-the-commonwealth-61#.VAfxbvmSyaU February 13, 2013
http://thestringer.com.au/youth-suicides-toll-higher-than-afghan-war-deaths-108#.VAfxuPmSyaU February 5, 2013
http://thestringer.com.au/kimberleys-horror-homelessness-figures-65#.VAfx8vmSyaU February 5, 2013
Radio:
http://www.989fm.com.au/podcasts/lets-talk/gerry-georgatos-18/ July 1, 2014
http://nirs.org.au/blog/NEWS/article/30818/Incidence+of+Suicide+added+to+IAG%27s+mandate.html October 21, 2013
http://www.thewire.org.au/storyDetail.aspx?ID=10972#1 October 25, 2013
http://www.989fm.com.au/podcasts/lets-talk/gerry-georgatos-15/#.UkOfnUkmX3A.twitter September 26, 2013
In its first report on suicide prevention, the World Health Organization call for global action to reduce the 800,000 deaths by suicide every year, three-quarters of them in low- and middle-income countries. The UN health agency says suicide is preventable, and governments can tackle it effectively by getting all their sectors working together under a national strategy.
Announcing the release of the report in Geneva on Thursday, WHO Director-General Dr.Margaret Chan, says:
“This report is a call for action to address a large public health problem which has been shrouded in taboo for far too long.”
Suicide is a global problem says the report. It takes place at any age, and although globally the highest rates are among the elderly aged 70 and over, it is the second leading cause of death in younger people aged 15 to 29.
Suicide is preventable
A key message of the report is suicide is preventable: the idea that once a person is suicidal they remain like that for life as a myth. The fact is, says WHO:
person wearing a hood
The report says it is a myth that talking about suicide is likely to encourage it.
“Heightened suicide risk is often short-term and situation-specific. While suicidal thoughts may return, they are not permanent and an individual with previously suicidal thoughts and attempts can go on to live a long life.”
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/282087.php
if anyone wants to help stem the tide of sucicde in aboriginal communities and get involved in combating this dreadful epidemic then please sign this petition to keep the Dumbartung Aboriginal Corporation founded and headed by Robert and Selina Eggington who lost their son to sucide alive and conserved. there is an effort by the land council and government to close the DAC which not only is one of the few Aboriginal cultural/historical/and memorial museums but has a healing center for those who’ve lost their loved ones and friends to death by one’s own hands. http://www.change.org/en-AU/petitions/indigenous-land-corporation-ilc-not-to-dissolve-the-rental-agreement-with-the-kyana-gallery-facility?share_id=GnMBDiuflt&utm_campaign=share_button_action_box&utm_medium=facebook&utm_source=share_petition
For those who have seen or haven’t seen Utopia then check out the Dumbartung aboriginal corporation in Perth led by Robert Eggington who is featured in John Pilger’s Utopia. sign this petition to save Dumbartung
http://www.change.org/p/indigenous-land-corporation-ilc-not-to-dissolve-the-rental-agreement-with-the-kyana-gallery-facility?share_id=GnMBDiuflt&utm_campaign=share_button_action_box&utm_medium=facebook&utm_source=share_petition There’s not much place for people to find the real history and true culture in Australia and there aren’t many places of heal in a place where black Australians are the most incarcerated, harassed, and have the highest rates of suicide. Dumbartung aboriginal corporation offers you a celebration of culture, shows the suppressed history of Australia, and has a place of heal for those lost to suicide due to the institutional racism in Australia. but its being threatened to close down SO! share this message and PEOPLE VERY IMPORTANT you can contact the Indigenous Land Council which was halted the Kyana/Dumbatung Gallery by contacting Dawn Casey at this address ilcinfo@ilc.gov.au TO EXPRESS YOU DON’T WANT DUMBATUNG TO CLOSE,HELP THE CAMPFIRES BURN FOREVER!