Indigenous youth suicide in Australia has now risen to become one of the highest in the world.
In the Kimberley alone there is one attemped Indigenous suicide per week.
The percentage of Indigenous suicide has increased from 5% of total suicide in 1991 to 50% in 2010.
The most dramatic increase was in youth aged 10 – 24, where the percentage of Indigenous youth suicide increased from 10% in 1991 to 80% in 2010.
The suicide incidence in relation to gender shows that 91 per cent of Indigenous suicides were male victims and 9% female victims from 2000–2005.
The relationship changed in the 2006–2010 period, with 82% male and 18% female, with half the female suicides under the age of 17 years, an emerging trend.
"Girls now account for a previously unheard of 40 per cent of all suicides of children under the age of 17 - an unprecedented rate in Northern Territory indigenous communities. The proportion of indigenous girls committing
suicide in the Territory is now the highest in the Western world." Dr Howard Bath, Children's Commissioner for the Northern Territory, February 2012.
Non-existent 20 years ago, it is now a social issue that is tearing communities and families apart across remote, regional and urban Aboriginal Australia. Survival of traditional cultural life in these Communities is now at crossroads, urgent action is needed.
Government approaches to Aboriginal mental health are not working. Communities are calling out to be heard, and for community-led solutions to be supported.
The Elders and Community leaders understand many of the causes behind the self harm and suicide phenomenon and are asking to lead in the healing process of their people. The Culture is Life campaign has been spearheaded by Indigenous Elders to create a solutions-based
report (film, photography and written) on community perspectives for preventing, and ultimately ending, Indigenous youth suicide.
32 Elders from across Australia were chosen by their Communities to be involved in the report. The Elders healing solutions have been recorded and directly transcribed to build the report (there are no non-Indigenous voices within this report).
Funds are now needed to design, print and distribute the report to all members of the State and Federal parliament as well as key stakeholders in the medical, academic and legal communities. The report features an Introduction by Prof Pat Dudgeon, Co chair
Aboriginal Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Advisory Group, Commissioner National Mental Health Commission.
