Alcohol a key factor in suicide within Northern Territory

A new study has identified alcohol use as strongly associated with suicide in Indigenous communities in the Northern Territory. An analysis of 411 coroners' reports over a ten year period revealed:

• alcohol was present in the blood or alcohol use was mentioned in 261 (64%) of all suicide reports. Of these 72% were Indigenous cases and 55% were non-Indigenous cases
• for these cases blood alcohol level was over 0.05% for 61% of Indigenous and 33% of non-Indigenous cases
• alcohol and/or other drug use was the leading key factor associated with suicide; conflict and relationship breakdown, and mental health issues were also identified as key factors but less frequently.

The study, Thematic analysis of key factors associated with Indigenous and non-Indigenous suicide in the Northern Territory, Australia aligns with previous research showing that alcohol use has a substantial impact on suicide rates, particularly for Indigenous people. The findings have implications for approaches to suicide prevention and policy debate with calls for a greater investment in community development and priority given to addressing alcohol use.

Source: GrogWatch

Links

• View article: Thematic analysis of key factors associated with Indigenous and non-Indigenous suicide in the Northern Territory, Australia
• View publication: Thematic analysis of key factors associated with Indigenous and non-Indigenous suicide in the Northern Territory, Australia
• View news item: Alcohol a key factor in suicide within the Northern Territory
• View website: GrogWatch