The link between money differences and mental health challenges is important for us to understand better. Indigenous people in Canada face a lot of psychological distress, suicidal thoughts, and suicide attempts. These difficult feelings happen more often in Indigenous communities where there’s a big income inequality.

Research that appeared in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ) states that suicide is a leading cause of mortality for Métis, Inuit, and First Nations people, with rates that are two to three times greater than those of non-Indigenous Canadians.

“We found persistent and substantial income-related inequalities in psychological distress and suicidal behaviours among Indigenous peoples living off-reserve in Canada, including status First Nations, non-status First Nations, Métis, and Inuit,” says Dr. Mohammad Hajizadeh, School of Health Administration, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Psychological Distress and suicidal behaviour among Indigenous People in Canada

The study sample consisted of 14,410 adults who in 2012 represented over 600,000 Indigenous people. Of them, 16% of men and 22% of women had lifetime suicidal ideation, or thoughts of suicide, while 2% of men and 2.3% of women had lifetime suicide attempts.

The researchers observed that, on a scale of 10 representing no distress and 50 representing extreme anguish, the scores for men and women, respectively, were 15.2 and 16.7, when measuring psychological distress.

Statistics Canada’s Aboriginal Peoples Survey provided the data.

Higher psychological distress among poorer individuals

Suicidal thoughts, attempts, and psychological distress were disproportionately greater among the poorer population.

The increased incidence of mental health problems among low-income Indigenous peoples appeared to be mostly explained by food insecurity, or the uncertainty around a regular, inexpensive source of nutritious food.

To address mental health among impoverished Indigenous people, the authors propose concentrating on enhancing the socioeconomic determinants of health, such as money, employment, and food availability.

“Policies designed to address food insecurity and income may help improve mental health outcomes among low-income Indigenous peoples living off-reserve,” says Dr. Hajizadeh.

“Socioeconomic inequalities in psychological distress and suicidal behaviours among Indigenous peoples living off-reserve in Canada” is published March 25, 2019.

Story Source:

Materials provided by Canadian Medical Association Journal. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.

Journal Reference:

Mohammad Hajizadeh, Amy Bombay, Yukiko Asada. Socioeconomic inequalities in psychological distress and suicidal behaviours among Indigenous peoples living off-reserve in Canada. Canadian Medical Association Journal, 2019; 191 (12): E325 DOI: 10.1503/cmaj.181374

Page citation:

Canadian Medical Association Journal. “Income inequalities in Indigenous groups linked to mental health issues.” ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 26 March 2019. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/03/190326105547.htm>.

Help is here:

Toll-Free Mental Health Rehabilitation Helpline Kiran (1800-599-0019)

Name of the Organisation: Vandrevala Foundation

Vandrevala Foundation is a non-profit that partners with organizations to help communities thrive by providing education and healthcare. Vandrevala Foundation launched a mental health helpline in India in 2009 to offer free psychological counselling and crisis mediation to anyone who is experiencing distress due to depression, trauma, mood disorders, chronic illness, and relationship conflict.

Website:  http://www.vandrevalafoundation.com

Contact: Email: info@vandrevalafoundation.com

Telephone: +91 9999 666 555

 Name of the Organisation: Aasra

AASRA volunteers conduct workshops on different levels with high-risk target groups eg schools, college students, highly stressed employees of call centres, financial institutions, multinationals, etc. AASRA volunteers have Outreach programs to reach out to the multitudes who may choose to end their lives because of chronic suffering or terminal illness.

Contact: email:  aasrahelpline@yahoo.com

 Telephone: 91-9820466726