More than 1 in 5 off-reserve aboriginal adults have contemplated suicide, StatsCan says

More than one in five aboriginal adultsliving off-reserve say they've contemplated suicide atsome point in their lives, Statistics Canada reported Tuesday.

The prevalence of suicidal thoughts was higher among First Nations people living off-reserve, Mtis and Inuit adults than among non-aboriginal adults, with the exception of Mtis men, whose tendencies closely mirrored those of non-aboriginal men, suggests aStatistics Canada study based on the 2012 Aboriginal Peoples Survey and the 2012 Canadian Community Survey Mental Health.

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Suicidal thoughts were reported by 26per cent of off-reserve First Nations women surveyed, compared to 23.8 per cent for Inuit women and 23.4 per cent for Mtis women. Among non-aboriginal women surveyed, 13.8 per cent reported contemplating suicide.

Compared to non-aboriginal men (11.1 per cent), about twice as many Inuit men (23.1 per cent) and off-reserve First Nations men(21.4 per cent) reported suicidal thoughts. Mtis men (14.9 per cent) had similar rates of suicidal thoughts asnon-indigenous men.

Mood disorders, drug use affect rates

The study make links between the prevalence of suicidal thoughts and mood disorders and perceived self-worth. For example, First Nations men with mental illness(47 per cent) were more than three times as likely as First Nations men without mental illnessto have such thoughts.

Factors such as heavy drinking, smoking, general health and divorce alsoaffected theincidence of suicidal tendencies, the report suggests.

Statistics Canada warns the results have certain limitations, including that the stigma associated with suicide could lead to under-reporting, and the study does not include First Nations adults living on-reserve.