Suicide in the Tokelau islands

The survey revealed extremely high suicide prevalence in Tokelau within the last 25 years. Attempted suicide rate of 40/1500 (and fatal suicide rate of 6/1500 (1980-2004) with increasing trend in recent years. With consideration of the small population of 1500, these rates are quite devastating. Attempted suicide was higher among Male (65%) than Female, thou there was a 1:1 ratio between genders in fatal suicides. Suicide was highest among the younger population (14-25) years old. Eighty three percent (83%) of fatalities were below the age of 25 and 67% were below the age of 20. Sixty seven percent (67%) of fatal cases were reported in Fakaofo and none was reported in Nukunonu. The most common method of suicide was hanging (40% of attempted cases, 83% of fatal cases hung themselves). This study revealed several factors that could have caused or contributed to suicidal behaviours in Tokelau. These included: failure within family relationships between parents and children; relationships problems such as marriage breakdown; boyfriend-girlfriend relationship problems; people gossiping and public humiliation; lost of loved ones, lost of status within the community; ashamed or afraid because they had done something wrong/unacceptable; depressed, bored; or anger; and failure in school examination. The outcome of this study calls for a collaborative approach between the Government of Tokelau, non-government bodies, churches, regional and international organizations and the three local communities to develop and implement appropriate preventative strategies to avoid losing another loved one to this devastating action.