The Social and Family Context of Aboriginal Self-Harmful Behaviour in Remote Australia

Abstract

In the preceding paper information was presented on a series of recent Aboriginal suicides in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. In this paper the author proceeds to an examination of the social and historical context of these events, which have occurred in conjunction with increases in other violent behaviours. Drawing from information generated by a survey of a stratified random sample of Aborigines from across the region, the rapidly changing environment of childhood is discussed, with particular attention to the structural and functional changes in caretaking roles. The inter-cultural context of these, as yet, largely intra-cultural manifestations of disadvantage, are emphasised.