The causes of suicidal behavior in native peoples of Siberia: transition from traditional lifestyle

There are high suicidal rates among native peoples of Siberia, which appear to be a considerable problem for public health in Russia. Positive dynamics is marked for the suicidal death cases in regard to the country as a whole. At the same time there is constant regional clustering with suicidal deaths predominant accumulation in national subordinate entities of Russian Federation, especially in Siberian regions. That is why suicidal behavior of the aboriginals should be regarded as social phenomenon in modern society, which demands deep analysis for its causes and risk factors. In order to reveal social and ethnic psychic conditions of the formation of suicidal behavior in the aboriginals of Siberia we have studied the lifestyle of native peoples in four national subordinate entities of Russian Federation where the highest statistical indices of suicides have been registered, namely in the Republics of Altay, Tyva, Sakha (Yakutia) and Aginskiy Buryat District. It is well-known that within a short historical period native peoples of Siberia were facing the succession of at least three different social economic patterns. In the course of cultural and historic changes they experienced the transition from traditional nomadic life to settling down. They were losing their indigenous lands and national works. They were forced to be involved into collective forms of economy when their cattle and equipment were taken away. The changes in their life style were accompanied by the destruction of their national culture and spirituality. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, many native peoples found themselves to be deprived of their territories, their traditional ways of economic management, production means and social guarantees. As the result of those social upheavals the viability of native peoples had been getting lower. This is confirmed by high indices of mortality caused by unnatural reasons including traumas, poisoning, accidents, murders and suicides.