Violent deaths among Native Americans in Oklahoma

              Injury Prevention
Facts & Tips
Rev. October 2011
Injury Prevention Service, Oklahoma State Department of Health, 1000 NE 10th Street, Oklahoma City, OK 73117 http://ips.health.ok.gov
Violent Deaths among Native Americans in Oklahoma
• From 2004-2008, there were 4,560 violent deaths among Oklahoma residents; of those, 457 (10%) were Native Americans. • Native American males were nearly 3 times more likely to be victims of violent deaths than Native American females. • Violent death rates among Native Americans were highest among persons 25-44 years of age. • Almost half of all violent deaths among Native Americans were suicide, 23% were homicide, and 26% were of undetermined manner. • The rates of homicide and undetermined manner of death were higher among Native Americans compared to non-Native Americans. • Native Americans 25-44 years of age were nearly twice as likely to be victims of homicides as non-Native Americans. • The rate of undetermined manner of death among Native American children aged 0-4 was more than twice the rate among non-Native Americans. • The overall suicide rate among Native Americans was slightly less than non-Native Americans; however, the suicide rate among Native Americans 10-24 years of age was 78% higher than non-Native Americans. • Firearms were the most common weapon used to kill in both suicides and homicides for both Native Americans and non-Native Americans.
Circumstances:
• Arguments and intimate partner violence were the leading circumstances of homicide. • Current depressed mood, intimate partner problems, and mental health problems were the leading circumstances of suicide.
Strategies to prevent self-inflicted violence:
• Learn the suicide warning signs. If you know a person at risk for suicide, refer them to help. OK Suicide Helpline 1-800-273-TALK. • Health care professionals should be encouraged to screen patients for mental health illnesses (including substance abuse), and provide adequate treatment for these illnesses. • Restrict access to lethal means, such as firearms and drugs, from persons who have expressed intent to commit suicide. • Prescription drug use by persons expressing intent to commit suicide should be closely monitored by the doctor, pharmacist, and family members.
Strategies to prevent interpersonal violence include:
• Programs that teach young people healthy relationship skills, such as Respect WORKS (a four-step approach to preventing dating violence) and Second Step (skills for social and academic success). • Positive youth development programs, such as The Boys and Girls Club, STRYVE (Striving To Reduce Youth Violence Everywhere), and mentoring programs. • Comprehensive school-based programs to address bullying. • Nurse home visitation programs to educate new mothers on child safety and child development. • Providing adequate domestic and family violence services to the community.
For more information go to:
• Safe Kids Worldwide: http://www.safekids.org/ • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: http://www.cdc.gov/ViolencePrevention • National Strategy for Suicide Prevention: http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/suicideprevention/federal.asp • Break the Cycle: http://www.breakthecycle.org