Representations of Indigeneity in mental health research: A systematic review of American Indian and Alaska Native suicide publications 2010-2020.

Abstract

Suicide is a pressing issue for many, though far from all, Native American (Native) communities. Although there is significant mental health research on suicide among Native people, community authorities and scientific studies have questioned its relevance for any particular Native community. To examine its relevance, we conducted a systematic review of how Indigeneity and suicide were represented in mental health research on suicidal thoughts and behaviors among American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN) published 2010-2020. Following guidance by Siddaway and colleagues (2019), seven databases were searched for publications focused on AI/AN suicide, yielding 937 citations; 240 full-text articles were screened for inclusion, and 72 articles were included in this review. These data capture trends in the mental health literature that homogenize Native peoples through the terms used and generalizations made, that racialize Native peoples as an ethnoracial minority group within the U.S., and that pathologize Native peoples by emphasizing health risks and vulnerabilities to the exclusion of Native strengths, resources, and resistance. This literature offered a distorted reflection of Native peoples and their experiences related to suicide, undercutting its potential relevance for Native communities. Recommendations for future research and guidance for Native community leaders are provided.