An Epidemiological Study of Suicide and Attempted Suicide Among the Papago Indians

Abstract

An epidemiological study of suicide among the Papago Indians of the desert Southwest was conducted oven a three-year period. Data gathered from several sources showed that this tribe's suicide rate exceeded that for the nation but was not as high as rates reported for other tribes. Most of the suicide victims were young men who had problems with alcohol. Papagos who lived on the reservation were found to complete suicide less often than their urban counterparts.