Suicide by Aboriginal People in South Australia: Comparison With Suicide Deaths in the Total Urban and Rural Populations

There was a major increase in suicide by Aboriginal people, both urban & rural, during 1981-1988, not marked by a similar increase for non-Aboriginal South Australians. A comparison can be drawn with reports of suicide by American Indians. It is possible that Aboriginal deaths by suicide can be ascribed to “anomie”, i.e., social disintegration affecting peoples under colonisation. This paper highlights the need for the development of successful intervention programmes in Aboriginal health.