Alcohol and Other Contextual Factors of Suicide in Four Aboriginal Communities of Quebec, Canada

This paper describes the psychosocial & behavioural characteristics of 30 consecutive adult suicides from 4 First Nations communities in Quebec. Psychological autopsies were done with family members. Suicide among this group was overrepresented by young single men. Alcohol intoxication at the time of death was reported for 22 cases in association with rapid acting out after the precipitating event for 20. All but 2 cases had a history of alcohol abuse & drug use was also present in 23 cases. In 16 cases there had been a previous suicide attempt. The main sociodemographic characteristics of the communities were overcrowded living arrangements & no job status. Clustering of suicide was observed within 7 nuclear families including 16 suicides. (46 refs.)