A Study of Factors Affecting Suicide in Aboriginal and ‘Other’ Populations in the Top End of the Northern Territory Through an Audit of Coronial Records

The aim of this review was to establish through coronial files whether there were any significant differences in the factors related to suicide in Aboriginal people & other people in the Top End during the period 1991-1998. Aboriginals who died by suicide were more likely to have a history of self-harm behaviour. Suicide among Aboriginal people was irregular in geographical distribution. A recent rise in suicide in the Tiwi community occurred against a background of social disruption similar to that which occurred in the Aboriginal population in the Kimberley region in Western Australia. (25 refs.)