Increasing rates of suicide amongst Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people?

For countless decades, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have suffered from mental health issues and suicide disproportionately in comparison to non-indigenous Australians (Das et al., 2018, p. 329). The mental health gap between Indigenous and non-indigenous Australians remains unacceptably wide’ (Australian Human Rights Commission). How did the mental health gap become so marginalised? Such inequalities date back to the ‘colonisation of Australia leading to significant adversities for the Indigenous population with loss of traditional way of life, land, and resources; marginalisation, poverty, and being subject to racism and policies such as the stolen generations, causing detrimental mortality rates’ (Das et al., 2018, p. 328).

The increasing rates of suicide in Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander communities may be caused from:

• National and historical racism
• Discrimination
•  Stigmas on certain minority groups can be detrimental to increasing suicide rates.  
• Unequal access to basic resources and mental health services.
• Marginalisation due to geographic location.
•  White supremacy (influenced since colonisation)

Thus, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (2016) deem Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander people report higher levels of mental distress and suicidal thoughts throughout their lives, due to such causes. From thorough research, Das et al (2018, p. 330) proves non-Indigenous people suffer two and a half times less from mental distress in comparison to Indigenous people. Extensive research proves there is a gap within increasing mental health and suicide rates in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Thus, the urgency to change this social injustice deems to be vital or more Indigenous generations will be stole to suicide.

To understand and gain a primary perspective of suicide inequalities among Indigenous Australians, Beyond Blue (2014) has an insightful video of a Torres Strait Islander man and his experiences with suicide.

In order to identify where the root cause of excluding Indigenous peoples’ mental wellbeing, the principals of Nancy Fraser’s (2005) social justice practices are needed. It is distinctly obvious to see the inequalities sit within the political and cultural dimensions. The lack of Indigenous recognition and societal participation is ultimately the cause of increasing suicide rates and mental health inequalities. In hopes to change this, the recognition of differences, cultural respect and collaborating knowledge will need to be practiced to enable Indigenous communities to feel a sense of belonging and national collectiveness. Thus, eventually closing the gap between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians.

Ultimately, if racism and discrimination stops nation wide than the inequalities surrounding Indigenous people and increasing suicide rates will stop! We need to generate discussions and create social movements, in oder to close the gap within Indigenous inequalities.

Do you think non-Indigenous people can change the future of suicide rates, for the excluded Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities?

References:

Australian Bureau of Statistics 2016, National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Survey 2014-15, cat. no. 4714.0, viewed 20 April 2019, <https://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/4714.0 >

Beyond Blue 2014, Stop. Think. Respect. Racial discrimination and mental health, Youtube video, viewed 23/4/2019, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFDW9dkLkp4&feature=youtu.be

Das, M., Kini, R., Garg, G., & Parker, R. (2018). Australian aboriginal and Torres strait islanders’ mental health issues: A litany of social causation. Indian Journal of Social Psychiatry, 34(4), 328.

Fraser, N & Honneth, A 2003.  Redistribution or Recognition?  A Political-Philosophical Exchange, Verso, New York.