AUSTRALIA: Culture Key to Suicide Prevention among Indigenous Australians, Experts Say, Ahead of Global Discussion
April 14, 2017
Suicide prevention experts are advocating for culturally competent approaches to preventing suicide among indigenous Australians. According to Healing Foundation Chief Executive Richard Weston, culture should be employed as a “tool for hope” to engage high-risk individuals in traditional practices, such as dance or storytelling. “I think we have to . . . find those activities that will instill purpose and hope in young people’s lives so they are less prone to despair,” he said. At a gathering of public health professionals in Melbourne in early April, First Nations representatives from around the world discussed how suicide affects their communities and the ways that they have chosen to address it. Weston and other experts emphasized the importance of sharing strategies, solutions, and lessons learned among indigenous populations across countries.
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