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Manipal Journal of Medical Sciences

Abstract

The mounting suicide rates among the youths, specifically targeting the Aborigines have been a major health concern all over the world. Despite of having their suicide prevention policies in place, Australia and New Zealand face the same alarming problem of increasing suicide rates among indigenous people. This paper serves the primary purpose of comparing the suicide prevention policies for the Aborigines in New Zealand and Australia. Additionally, it also explains the reason behind this disproportionality/inclination of the suicidal deaths towards the indigenous people in these two countries which is less established in the existing research literature. Walt and Gibson’s Health Policy Triangle was applied to The New Zealand Suicide Prevention Action Plan 2013-16 and the Fifth National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Plan of Australia. On demonstrating a paralleled picture of the two policies, it was found that Aborigines faced a common problem of cultural barrier in both the countries which was well displayed in their health sector as well. The inequities among the nonindigenous and the indigenous people led to the increasing scores of suicides among the latter. More importantly to overcome this problem, a more holistic approach which amalgamates different external sectors like finances, media and few others along with the health policy initiatives are required to bring a positive change in the health status of the Aborigines in both the countries

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