Suicide and Careless Death in Young Males: Ecological Study of an Aboriginal Population in Canada

Problems in estimating rates of suicide in North American Native populations are considered. Despite research problems, it appears that suicide rates are much higher in Native groups. An ecological method of calculating rates of suicide & careless deaths in males (15-34 yrs) is described. It shows that in Alberta, Natives reserves have a substantially higher rate than adjacent rural areas; there is a south to north trend, & economic development is associated with lower death rates.