Australia, Investigate Alarming Rise in Northern Territory Suicides
- von: Susan V and Concerned Citizens
- empfänger: Australian Government
Exactly what's going on in Australia's Tiwi Islands is not clear. But driving spikes into power poles to prevent people from hanging and electrocuting themselves, goes beyond just a serious problem.
In 2000, Great Southern arrived in Tiwi, promising prosperity that didn't pan out. After clearing 28000 hectares of native forest, it reportedly threatened Native women with physical abuse if they protested. Small wonder, then, that the Aboriginal population reacted with depression and anger.
Not only Tiwi, but all of Northern Territory reports an alarming rise in suicides, many of girls under 17, said to coincide with increased violence against women and an intervention program begun five years ago. The program favors antidepressants, despite growing concerns over their worsening of suicidal tendencies.
Whatever the cause, something is seriously wrong. Tell Australia that it must investigate and improve this disturbing situation.
In 2000, Great Southern arrived in Tiwi, promising prosperity that didn't pan out. After clearing 28000 hectares of native forest, it reportedly threatened Native women with physical abuse if they protested. Small wonder, then, that the Aboriginal population reacted with depression and anger.
Not only Tiwi, but all of Northern Territory reports an alarming rise in suicides, many of girls under 17, said to coincide with increased violence against women and an intervention program begun five years ago. The program favors antidepressants, despite growing concerns over their worsening of suicidal tendencies.
Whatever the cause, something is seriously wrong. Tell Australia that it must investigate and improve this disturbing situation.
We. the undersigned, find the news of rising suicides in the Northern Territory alarming, especially since they include a growing number of girls under 17.
To learn that the increase comes after a government intervention program raises a number of questions, though it is not clear whether this is due to program tactics or inadequacies or is a result of more accurate incidence reporting or other causes.
The information provided by Sane Australia and Beyond Blue, however, appears to focus on claims of drug effectiveness that have been widely challenged in the recent scientific literature, while at the same time downplaying the adverse effects of psychotropic drugs, which include worsening of depression and suicidal thoughts and tendencies. Though these effects are now listed on drug labels, some with black box warnings for younger patients, these organizations fail to flag these concerns.
If the intervention program does indeed focus on drug treatments, then it could be contributing to, rather than ameliorating, the rise in suicides, especially in children or young adults who are most vulnerable to the adverse effects.
Perhaps this information on Dr. Patrick McGorry's influence in Australia might have some relevance to the suicides and should be included in any investigation of the situation (http://www.cchrint.org/psycho-pharmaceutical-front-groups/australian-psychiatrist-patrick-mcgorrys-brave-new-world-of-pre-drugging-kids/)
This information coupled with the fact that many victims are among the Territory's Aboriginal people, and the Australian Institute of Health's report that far more Aboriginals are hospitalized (read institutionalized) with mental health problems than non-Aboriginals, may give another clue to the problem. If people fear that sharing suicidal thoughts will result in forced-commitments to mental hospitals they may avoid seeking help altogether. Similarly minorities in the US are more likely to be institutionalized in state hospitals, much like prisons, where they are forced-drugged or treated with electroshock against their will (See Robert B. Whitaker's Mad In America).
People often choose suicide over this type of treatment, although better methods, like Finland's Open Dialogue or Soteria House-type interventions can be implemented.
Also of concern is the reported rise in violence towards women. Though news sources citing the rise in suicides don't make it clear what the source of this violence is, domestic violence is implied. However, if over-drugging is indeed an issue, this too can result in violent behavior, which is a side effect of most psychotropic drugs and also clearly noted on the labels.
But this explanation doesn't address reports of deadly violence against women apparently occurring in the Tiwi Islands over environmental concerns.
So, again the question arises, what exactly is happening in the Northern Territory to cause these suicides and increase in violence against women? The rest of the world would like to know.
Please take these concerns very seriously, and thank you for your consideration.
Petition unterzeichnenPetition unterzeichnenTo learn that the increase comes after a government intervention program raises a number of questions, though it is not clear whether this is due to program tactics or inadequacies or is a result of more accurate incidence reporting or other causes.
The information provided by Sane Australia and Beyond Blue, however, appears to focus on claims of drug effectiveness that have been widely challenged in the recent scientific literature, while at the same time downplaying the adverse effects of psychotropic drugs, which include worsening of depression and suicidal thoughts and tendencies. Though these effects are now listed on drug labels, some with black box warnings for younger patients, these organizations fail to flag these concerns.
If the intervention program does indeed focus on drug treatments, then it could be contributing to, rather than ameliorating, the rise in suicides, especially in children or young adults who are most vulnerable to the adverse effects.
Perhaps this information on Dr. Patrick McGorry's influence in Australia might have some relevance to the suicides and should be included in any investigation of the situation (http://www.cchrint.org/psycho-pharmaceutical-front-groups/australian-psychiatrist-patrick-mcgorrys-brave-new-world-of-pre-drugging-kids/)
This information coupled with the fact that many victims are among the Territory's Aboriginal people, and the Australian Institute of Health's report that far more Aboriginals are hospitalized (read institutionalized) with mental health problems than non-Aboriginals, may give another clue to the problem. If people fear that sharing suicidal thoughts will result in forced-commitments to mental hospitals they may avoid seeking help altogether. Similarly minorities in the US are more likely to be institutionalized in state hospitals, much like prisons, where they are forced-drugged or treated with electroshock against their will (See Robert B. Whitaker's Mad In America).
People often choose suicide over this type of treatment, although better methods, like Finland's Open Dialogue or Soteria House-type interventions can be implemented.
Also of concern is the reported rise in violence towards women. Though news sources citing the rise in suicides don't make it clear what the source of this violence is, domestic violence is implied. However, if over-drugging is indeed an issue, this too can result in violent behavior, which is a side effect of most psychotropic drugs and also clearly noted on the labels.
But this explanation doesn't address reports of deadly violence against women apparently occurring in the Tiwi Islands over environmental concerns.
So, again the question arises, what exactly is happening in the Northern Territory to cause these suicides and increase in violence against women? The rest of the world would like to know.
Please take these concerns very seriously, and thank you for your consideration.
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