Sociological Considerations (IN: Focus Group on Suicide Prevention: Presentations, by Department of Health, Medical Services Branch)

This chapter examines some of the identifying factors of a suicidal individual, particularly as they relate to aboriginal people in Canada. The specific factors that are discussed are: age & gender, social isolation, poverty & unemployment, hopelessness & powerlessness, prior suicide attempts, anomie, & acculturation. Restoule believes that most of these risk factors stem from the process of acculturation. Until this issue is resolved, suicide will continue to be a problem for aboriginal people.