A Suicide Epidemic on an Indian Reserve

A series of eight suicides within a twelve month period in a small rural community in a large northern Ontario Indian Reserve was studied by means of interviews with the families and neighbours of the victims. The victims corresponded to the usual age group for suicides on an Indian Reserve but were different in the sex distribution and marital status. They were vulnerable individuals who had negative self esteem, were socially isolated, tended to internalize feelings and conflicts and thus were overdependent on their families. Associated with their stress situation were marked family discord, threat of an actual break-up of the family, loss of the support of a significant relative, and extensive alcohol misuse by the families. The victims' defenses of escape — withdrawal, internalization and alcohol misuse — failed with resultant hopelessness. The social conditions of acculturation, cultural conflict, negative self-image, loss of extended family, alcohol misuse, all contributed to a state of anomie which made the situation worse. Failure of identity resolution in the victims probably accounted for their age selection. Malignant influences are also considered as part of the contributory picture.