Completed suicides among the Inuit of northern Quebec, 1982-1996: a case-control study

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Psychiatry

Background:

• High rates of completed suicide among Inuit in Canada, with an increase in northern Quebec since 1982.
• Need to understand characteristics and risk factors for suicide among Inuit in Nunavik.

Purpose of the Study:

• Describe characteristics of Inuit individuals who died by suicide in Nunavik (1982-1996).
• Identify antecedents and correlates of completed suicide in this population.

Main Methods:

• Case-control study comparing 71 suicide deaths with 71 matched living controls from Nunavik.
• Review of comprehensive medical charts for sociodemographic, medical, psychiatric, and healthcare utilization data.

Main Results:

• Suicide cases were predominantly single males aged 15-24; common methods were hanging and gunshot.
• Cases had higher rates of lifetime psychiatric diagnoses (depression, personality/conduct disorders) and psychiatric history (OR 4.3, OR 3.5).
• Cases had more severe non-psychiatric illnesses, greater lifetime healthcare contact (p=0.01), and increased contact in the year prior to death (p=0.03).

Conclusions:

• Frequent contact with healthcare services by suicide decedents suggests frontline medical personnel can identify at-risk individuals.
• Early identification and intervention within healthcare settings may help reduce Inuit suicide rates.