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Suicide Among Indigenous Peoples In Brazil from 2000 to 2020
26 Pages Posted: 6 Jan 2023
More...Abstract
Background: Previous studies in Australia, Canada and Brazil state that suicide among ethnic minority groups is higher than in the general population. Brazilian indigenous people have been reported to have a high suicide rate, with reports of clusters of suicide occurring in some communities. The objective of this study is to report trends in countrywide rates of suicide among indigenous Brazilians from 2000 to 2020, and to compare these rates with the non-indigenous population.
Methods: This is an ecological study using indigenous suicide data collected from all regions of Brazil during a period of 21 years, from 2000 to 2020. We used estimates of suicide from the Mortality Information System (SIM) available on the Brazilian Health Ministry website (DATASUS). Suicide mortality rates by state and region were calculated using the 2010 Census estimated indigenous population, and the projection for other years. We performed a trend analysis and compared trends in suicide between indigenous and non-indigenous population in the period of the study.
Findings: Suicide rates among indigenous Brazilians have reached more than 2 and a half times higher levels than among the overall Brazilian population in 2020 (17.57 suicide deaths vs. 6.35 suicide deaths per 100,000 inhabitants, respectively). The Central-West region of Brazil had the highest suicide rates among indigenous Brazilians over the study time period, reaching 58.8 deaths/100,000 inhabitants in 2008. The younger age group (10 to 24 years) had the highest suicide rates in all years of the study. Time series analyses showed a trend of statistically significant increases in suicide rates for both indigenous and non-indigenous Brazilians in the study period. The North region, more specifically the Amazonas state, has shown an important increase in suicide rates among indigenous populations. The rate of suicide of indigenous in Brazil without Amazonas and Mato Grosso do Sul’s cases, is similar to the rates of the whole Brazilian population, demonstrating that these two states are home to the most vulnerable indigenous peoples.
Interpretation: While there were statistically significant increases in suicide rates for all Brazilians over the period of the study, suicide rates remain alarmingly higher among indigenous Brazilians compared to their non-indigenous counterparts. The high rates of suicide among the indigenous peoples and specially the younger individuals (10 to 24 years) reinforces the need for specific prevention strategies for the indigenous population. Further studies should be concentrated in determining risk factors in distinct ethnic groups, specifically within regions experiencing elevated risk, such as the States of Amazonas and Mato Grosso do Sul.
Funding: JAPA, EF, FJO and DBM were funded by the National Institute of Health no R01MH128911-01.
Declaration of Interest: Authors report no conflicts of interest.
Ethics Approval: Not applicable.
Keywords: Epidemiology, Suicide, Indigenous
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation