Suicide—A Challenge in Modern Greenland

Bjerregaard, Peter; Lynge, Inge

doi:10.1080/13811110600558265

Cited by 43 publications

(77 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…Although the finding that indigenous Sami females aged 15-24 years also had a significant increase in suicide mortality is consistent with findings among other indigenous adolescents [22], the finding was surprising due to the lack of attention paid to female suicides in the Sami society. However, the finding is in accordance with results from the study among Sami adolescents in Arctic Norway [Silviken and Kvernmo, submitted], that report a higher lifetime prevalence of suicide attempts among Sami females compared to their majority counterparts.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 63%

“…One factor that possibly influences the extensive use of firearms among Sami in Arctic Norway, and in Norway, in general, is the widespread ownership of firearms due to traditional and modern hunting/labor and leisure time activities. The finding that about half of the Sami females used a violent method (hanging) is inconsistent with the general opinion that women tend to use less violent methods [35], however consistent with findings among other indigenous females [22]. Although hanging has increased among young females (10-24 years) in Norway during the period 1973-1994 [21], the high frequency found among Sami females exceeds the general national frequency for females (27%, 1976-98) [24].…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 37%

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Suicide among Indigenous Sami in Arctic Norway, 1970–1998

2006

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Suicide mortality was examined between 1970 and 1998 in a cohort of 19,801 persons categorized as indigenous Sami in Arctic Norway. Standardized mortality ratios (SMR) were calculated using the suicide rates of the rural population of Arctic Norway as reference. There was a significant moderate increased risk for suicide among indigenous Sami (SMR = 1.27, 95% Confidence interval (CI): 1.02-1.56). In the study period, 89 suicides occurred in the cohort (70 men and 19 women) with increased suicide mortality both for indigenous Sami males (SMR = 1.27; 95% CI: 0.99-1.61) and females (SMR = 1.27; 95% CI: 0.77-1.99). Significant increased suicide mortality was found for young Sami aged 15-24 for both males (SMR = 1.82; 95% CI: 1.13-2.78) and females (SMR = 3.17; 95% CI: 1.17-6.91). Significant increased suicide mortality was found for indigenous Sami males residing in Sami core area (SMR = 1.54; 95% CI: 1.04-2.20) and for indigenous Sami males not belonging to semi-nomadic reindeer herding (SMR = 1.30; 95% CI: 1.00-1.65). Clusters of suicides in Sami core area may explain the increased suicide mortality found in subgroups among indigenous Sami.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 63%

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 37%

Suicide among Indigenous Sami in Arctic Norway, 1970–1998

2006

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“…These include a high infant mortality rate (11,22); high deaths rates due to unnatural causes, especially suicides and accidents (11,14,23), which results in a low mean lifetime expectancy (11); high rates of infectious diseases (tuberculosis, hepatitis B, Helicobacter pylori, meningitis) (11,24,25); increasing rates of diabetes (26,27), cardiovascular diseases (6,7) and cancers, often connected to smoking and other lifestyle factors (11), along with stressors to mental health such as unstable family relationships, abuse and domestic violence often connected to alcohol and cannabis abuse (28)(29)(30)(31). Lack of parenting skills is a growing concern (28).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Health care and health care delivery in Greenland

Niclasen

Mulvad

2010

International Journal of Circumpolar Health

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Objectives. To describe the health care system and health care delivery in Greenland. Study design and method. This was a literature study that included literature and articles searched in PubMed published from 1989 to 2009 about health care in Greenland. Results. The health care system is a publicly financed governmental responsibility. Its major challenges are limited economic resources, Greenland's demographic structure, rapid epidemiological changes, increased public demand for specialized treatment, difficulty in recruiting professionals and the economic burden imposed by around-the-clock maintenance of specialized staff in sparsely populated areas. To meet these challenges, a public health program focusing on health promotion and prevention, educational initiatives to improve recruitment and a system reorientation moving towards larger health care regions is proposed to be gradually implemented from 2010. One fundamental component of this plan is tying the system together with a telemedicine system and in the future also with a joint electronic patient file system. The importance of better surveillance and monitoring of health has been recognized, while securing best clinical practice and implementing better steering instruments on resource allocation and quality are areas needing focus in the future. Conclusion. Many of the challenges for the Greenlandic health care system are being addressed with promising strategies, but only the future will show whether they are successful.

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“…2.) Indigenous youth now manifest very high suicide rates across the circumpolar Arctic from Siberia (17), to Alaska (18), Canada (5) and Greenland (19,20). These are a genealogically linked people who share much history, language and culture.…”

Section: Social Changementioning

confidence: 99%

Canadian Inuit community engagement in suicide prevention

Kral

Wiebe

Nisbet

et al. 2009

International Journal of Circumpolar Health

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Objectives. To review suicide patterns among Inuit in Canada and highlight new developments in Inuit-driven and community-based suicide prevention. Study design. Narrative overview of suicide among Inuit in Canada, strides towards Inuit autonomy, and community and government action towards suicide prevention. Methods. Review of Inuit meanings of mental health, movements towards Inuit control across Inuit Nunaat (the 4 Inuit regions) of Canada, and of community and government action towards suicide prevention. Results. Economic advancement is occurring in Inuit Nunaat following land claim settlements, and territorial and provincial governments are overseeing Inuit well-being. Inuit community engagement in suicide prevention is taking place and studies are being planned to evaluate the efficacy of such action for suicide prevention and community mental health. Initial evidence demonstrates that community control over suicide prevention itself can be effective towards preventing suicide. Conclusions. A new orientation is taking place in Canada in the name of Aboriginal community empowerment. There is a new hope for the model of meaningful community engagement and partnership with the Canadian government in suicide prevention and well-being.

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Suicide—A Challenge in Modern Greenland

Cited by 43 publications

References 5 publications

Suicide among Indigenous Sami in Arctic Norway, 1970–1998

Suicide among Indigenous Sami in Arctic Norway, 1970–1998

Health care and health care delivery in Greenland

Canadian Inuit community engagement in suicide prevention

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