A study of factors affecting suicide in Aboriginal and ‘other’ populations in the Top End of the Northern Territory through an audit of coronial records

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: A recent increase in suicide among the Tiwi people of Bathurst and Melville Islands in the Northern Territory led to a review of recent suicides in the Top End of the Northern Territory using the coroner's records. The aim of the review was to establish through the coronial files whether there were any significant differences in the factors that related to suicide in Aboriginal people and other people in the Top End. METHOD: Coronial determinations of suicide in the Top End for the years 1991-1998 were examined using a structured coding instrument. RESULTS: Hanging was a prominent method of suicide among Aboriginal people. Aboriginals who committed suicide were more likely to have a history of self-harm behaviour. Suicide among Aboriginal people was irregular in distribution with a higher general risk for Aboriginal people resident in the east Arnhem region. A recent rise in suicide in the Tiwi community occurred against a background of social disruption similar to that which occurred against suicides in the Aboriginal population of the Kimberley region in Western Australia. CONCLUSIONS: There are some important differences in the factors attributed to suicide in the Aboriginal and other populations in the Top End. Furthermore, our study highlights regional differences in suicide risk among different Aboriginal populations in the Top End.