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ABSTRACT
Objective: To describe an Aboriginal youth suicide prevention project developed by Njernda Aboriginal Corporation.
Method: This is a descriptive study of an Aboriginal youth suicide prevention project developed by Njernda Aboriginal Corporation based in Echuca, Victoria. Information about the program was obtained from interviewing the project worker and the social and emotional wellbeing worker. Further information was obtained about the program by examining activity registers, program flyers and posters.
Results: The Aboriginal youth suicide prevention project was designed and implemented by Njernda Aboriginal Corporation over a period of three years. The main components of the project were building resilience, early intervention response and immediate postvention support. Resilience was built through the Bullroarer program, the Red Dust Healing program and community awareness programs. Another program, the Jekkora group was developed and implemented as an early intervention response. A postvention service is in the planning stage.
Conclusions: During a three-year period Njernda Aboriginal Corporation established community resilience building and early intervention programs. Developing and implementing a comprehensive suicide prevention plan at the community level requires adequate time as well as support from mainstream services. These findings therefore have implications for future planning of Aboriginal suicide prevention projects.
ARTICLE HISTORY
Received 14 December 2015
Accepted 2 June 2016
KEYWORDS
Indigenous suicide; suicide prevention; community models; aboriginal health programs
Introduction
It is widely accepted that Aboriginal Suicidology is different from that of the general population (Elliott-Farrelly, 2004; Silburn et al., 2014; Tatz, 1999). The risk for suicide is considered to exist more at the community level than at the individual level and it develops as a result of a complex combination of socio-cultural factors (Tatz, 1999). Conversely, factors such as social connectedness and family bonds can promote and maintain the wellbeing of Aboriginal young people (Hunter & Milroy, 2006). Nonetheless, there is a paucity of Aboriginal suicide prevention strategies that are empirically proven to be effective (Ridani et al., 2015).
In recent years, the incidence of Aboriginal suicide has been accelerating at an alarming rate particularly among young people (Australian Government, 2013). This increase has resulted in a targeted focus on Aboriginal suicide with all sections of government considering it a public health priority (Australian Government, 2013). The Victorian Government developed its own Aboriginal suicide prevention strategy...