KP222 Lecture 1: Mental Wellness through Culture: An Examination of Youth Suicide Rates in Canadaโs Aboriginal Communities and Recommendations for Public Policy
9 Feb 2019
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Document Summary
This paper recognizes the high rate of aboriginal youth suicide in canada and the need for an intervention strategy. According to statistics, the high rate of suicide cannot be applied to all abo- riginal communities. There are areas where youth suicide is non- existent, thus a blanket assumption, such as all aboriginal youth are at an elevated risk, only perpetuates stigmatization. The bio- medical focus of mainstream health care and colonial perspective of other services often fail to acknowledge the determinants be- hind youth suicide within aboriginal communities. The literature reveals that healthy communities, with low rates of youth suicide, share a common identity, practice cultural continuity and are self-determining. Aboriginal youth, canadians must go beyond thinking of health in terms of treating symptoms. We must instead examine and address the historical and contemporary constructions of racism and cultural genocide and work toward developing public policy promoting culturally safe processes.
