Violência autoinfligida: jovens indígenas e os enigmas do suicídio

Abstract

This article discusses suicide among young indigenous people, through the data contained in the Report of Violence Against Indigenous Populations in Brazil (Relatório de Violência Contra os Povos Indígenas no Brasil), published anually by the Missionary Indigenous Council (Conselho Indigenista Missionário – CIMI). The data collected shows an increase in occurrences in brazilian territory, however, it doesn’t completely cover this reality. Even if partial, the data reveals tendencies, provokes doubts and several questions. Suicide is a complex social fact, that occurs in the realm of free will and involves a constellation of factors associated with socio-cultural, environmental and existential conditions that compose the context of each indigenous population where said episodes take place. A few present and historical cases are narrated in order to showcase the variety between individual occurrences, albeit without the intent of categorization. The increase in the number of suicides among young indigenous people has been a concern and rallies consciences and the need to document cases.

Keywords

• young indigenous people
• suicide
• native people
• complexity