Suicide in the Indigenous Population of Latin America: A Systematic Review

Rev Colomb Psiquiatr. 2017 Oct-Dec;46(4):237-242. doi: 10.1016/j.rcp.2016.12.002. Epub 2017 Feb 16.

Abstract

Objective: Due to the high rates of suicide reported among many ethnic minorities, a systematic review is presented on suicide in indigenous populations of Latin America.

Methods: Systematic review in PubMed, Scopus, PsycNET, Scielo and Scholar Google.

Results: From an initial total of 1862 articles, 41 were included for data extraction. They include 21 from Brazil, 13 from Colombia, 2 from Chile, 1 from Peru, and 4 articles grouped from different countries. Suicide is a public health issue in many communities. Lifestyle changes, industrialisation, environmental degradation, and alcohol have led the indigenous population experiencing what has been described as "cultural death."

Keywords: American Native Continental Ancestry Group; Comportamiento autolesivo; Health Services; Indigenous; Indígenas; Latin America; Latinoamérica; Nativos americanos; Self-Injurious Behaviour; Servicios de salud; Suicide; Suicidio.

Publication types

  • Review
  • Systematic Review

MeSH terms

  • Cultural Characteristics
  • Humans
  • Indians, South American / statistics & numerical data*
  • Latin America / epidemiology
  • Life Style
  • Public Health*
  • Suicide / statistics & numerical data*