Work a reason for suicide among young Samoans

Dr Jemaima Tiatia says 70 per cent of young Samoans who attempt suicide are employed. Picture / Chris Miller

Unemployment is often a factor in suicide but having a job can put young Samoans more at risk of self-harm behaviour, a study has found.

Health researcher Dr Jemaima Tiatia found that in a study of Samoans admitted to a hospital emergency department after a suicide attempt that 70 per cent were employed, contradicting other research that unemployed people were at greater risk.

Dr Tiatia said pressure to supplement family incomes and give to the church emerged in her interviews of 20 of the young people. "They are more at risk if employed because of expectations of giving, giving, giving."

This featured more strongly with the eldest children in a family who as well were expected to shoulder other responsibilities such as child raising.

Dr Tiatia said those pressures were more likely to be placed on daughters. Other problems with family life included parents who were uncommunicative and at times harsh disciplinarians.

"There is emotional suppression within our culture, we can't overtly express anger to our elders and it is internalised. Respect plays a huge part, with no answering back, or even saying how you feel."

Dr Tiatia said parents gave orders or disciplined their children while not explaining why. "Children and parents are not able to connect with each other."

She found there was a general problem of a lack of communication in the family, often exacerbated when Samoan-born parents did not speak English.

Dr Tiatia said many of the parents still operated along traditional, historical and biblical premises. "It's spare the rod, spoil the child ... some [children] are literally left battered and bruised." Dr Tiatia said the youth she interviewed "would have got hidings" but the corporal punishment had a greater psychological impact on them and they were less able to cope.

Her research also showed that for two young women their sexuality was an issue in their suicide attempt. Lesbianism was not accepted in Samoan culture possibly because of parents' dreams of their daughters producing grandchildren, she said.

Dr Tiatia said despite the pressures on young people partly connected with traditional religious upbringing, the youth placed a high importance on spiritual values. She said spirituality was absent from most public health literature and initiatives in tackling suicide. The church could play a more active role in prevention, she said.