Suicidal thoughts more than four times higher among Inuit adults: StatsCan

This Statistics Canada graph shows how Inuit adults compare with other Aboriginal groups with respect to suicidal thoughts during their entire life. (GRAPH COURTESY OF STATSCAN)

Nearly one in four Inuit adults, 26 to 59 years, say they have had suicidal thoughts throughout their lifetime, says a study released Jan. 19 by Statistics Canada.

Protection against suicidal thoughts seems to be offered by good health, having a partner, along with no smoking, drug use, or heavy drinking.

The data in the report is drawn from the 2012 Aboriginal Peoples Survey and describes the lifetime prevalence of suicidal thoughts among First Nations, Métis and Inuit adults and relates them to key risk factors, many of which have been shown to be related to suicidal thoughts among other populations.

Suicide rates among Aboriginal peoples in Canada are several times higher than rates among the non-Aboriginal population — and 10 times higher among Inuit, who also are more likely to have suicidal thoughts, StatsCan found in its recent report.

More than twice as many Inuit men than non-Aboriginal men were likely to have had suicidal thoughts, StatsCan said. Compared with 11.1 per cent of non-Aboriginal men, 23.1 per cent of Inuit men were more likely to have had suicidal thoughts.

Women in all three Aboriginal groups were more likely than non-Aboriginal women to report suicidal thoughts (13.8 per cent), but StatsCan found slightly more Inuit women than men — 23.8 per cent — were more likely to have had suicidal thoughts.

However, Inuit women who reported excellent or very good health were less likely to have had suicidal thoughts.

Inuit men and women who reported heavy, frequent drinking in the previous year were about twice as likely to have reported suicidal thoughts compared with those who did not, the StatsCan said.

As well, suicidal thoughts were “more prevalent among off-reserve First Nations, Métis and Inuit who were daily smokers.”

StatsCan also found:

• self-reported, physician-diagnosed mood and/or anxiety disorders, drug use, and lack of high self-worth were associated with suicidal thoughts;

• suicidal thoughts were more prevalent among people who had used prescription drugs for recreational purposes or street drugs than among those who didn’t; and,

• being widowed, divorced, separated or never married was associated with suicidal thoughts.

More research is needed to examine other characteristics such as social support, life stress and feelings of hopelessness which could play into suicidal thoughts, the report said.

But this report’s results could guide further suicide prevention programs among First Nations, Métis and Inuit, StatsCan said.

A Nunavut Coroner’s inquest into suicide, held last September, made 30 recommendations asking for more political support for suicide prevention, more action on suicide prevention and more money to fund suicide prevention programs in Nunavut.

In Nunavut and Nunavik, people in crisis can reach out to the volunteer-run crisis-intervention hotline, now in its 26th year of operation.

If you’re feeling distressed, you can reach the Kamatsiaqtut Help Line at 1-867-979-3333 or, toll-free, from Nunavik or Nunavut, at 1-800-265-3333.