Australian Aboriginal suicide: the need for an Aboriginal suicidology?

This article examines suicide among Australian Aboriginal peoples, and reviews current directions in suicide prevention. A particular focus is on the apparent differences discovered by other researchers in suicidal behaviour, risk factors, response to prevention programs, as well as cultures, customs and beliefs between the Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal population, and between different Aboriginal communities and groups. Despite evidence of such differences, Aboriginal suicide continues to be addressed under the same framework as the general population by national suicide prevention strategies. Also, many Aboriginal suicide prevention initiatives continue to be adapted from existing non-Aboriginal models, which are based on non-Aboriginal understandings of suicide, health and healthcare. The evidence is reviewed in the context of the argument for an Aboriginal suicidology that is separate to the current mainstream suicidology, which could have the potential to better inform the development and future direction of more effective and appropriate Australian Aboriginal suicide prevention initiatives.