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A suicide prevention program for Hopi youth.
1Department of Anthropology, University of Arizona, Tucson 85721.
Social Science & Medicine (1982)
|January 1, 1987
Summary
Hopi suicide rates among adolescents and young adults appear stable, not rising. Risk factors are linked to parental marriage choices, not just acculturation or tradition.
Area of Science:
- Sociology
- Public Health
- Indigenous Studies
Background:
- Concerns exist regarding elevated suicide rates among Hopi teenagers and young adults.
- Previous research has not definitively established a recent rise in these rates.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze 30 years of Hopi suicide data.
- To identify risk factors associated with suicide and alcohol abuse within the Hopi community.
- To inform the development of effective suicide prevention programs.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of suicide data spanning 30 years within the Hopi population.
- Examination of demographic and social factors, including parental marriage patterns.
Main Results:
- Hopi suicide rates are likely stable, not necessarily increasing.
- High age-specific rates for individuals aged 15-34 are a long-standing issue.
- Children of parents in disapproved marriages (intertribal, intermesa, disparate social status) are at higher risk for suicide and alcohol abuse.
Conclusions:
- Suicide prevention programs must address underlying social dynamics rather than solely focusing on adolescents.
- The community's labeling of parental choices as deviant contributes to 'primary' deviance in offspring.
- Effective interventions require a nuanced understanding beyond acculturation or traditional culture as sole causes.