Factors Associated with Recovery in Aboriginal People in Canada Who Had Previously Been Suicidal

Abstract

To explore factors associated with recovery from suicidal ideation among Aboriginal peoples living off reserve in Canada. Recovery is defined as being free of serious suicidal thoughts for the past year. Data for this study came from the 2012 Aboriginal Peoples Survey, a nationally representative sample of Aboriginal peoples in Canada who are living off-reserve. The sample consisted of those who had seriously considered suicide at some point in their life (n = 2,680). Those who had been suicidal in the past year were compared to those who were no longer suicidal using Pearson chi-square and logistic regression analyses. Several factors were associated with recovery among Aboriginal peoples living off-reserve in Canada who had previously been suicidal. Recovery was higher among women, individuals who were older, and those who were food secure, spoke an Aboriginal language, had a high school degree, had a confidant, and had no previous diagnosis of mood disorders or learning disability. Several sociodemographic factors appear to influence recovery from suicidality among Aboriginal peoples. Intervention approaches to promote recovery from suicidal ideation would benefit from targeted outreach, a strength-based, culturally-specific approach using traditional practices, and encouraging involvement of various community members to foster resilience and formation of relationships.

Keywords:

• Aboriginal
• First Nations
• recovery
• resilience
• suicidal ideation

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Esme Fuller-Thomson

Esme Fuller-Thomson, Faculties of Social Work & Medicine, Insitute of Life Course of Aging, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Alexandra E. Sellors

Alexandra E. Sellors, Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Rose E. Cameron

Rose E. Cameron, School of Social Work, Algoma University, Marie, Ontario, Canada.

Philip Baiden

Philip Baiden, School of Social Work, The University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, Texas, USA.

Senyo Agbeyaka

Senyo Agbeyaka, Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.