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Suicide rates among indigenous youth are “just unacceptable”

Suicide rates among indigenous youth are “just unacceptable”

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Suicide rates for indigenous youth that are sometimes more than ten times the national average are “just unacceptable”.

That’s the stark assessment of the UN Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth, Ahmad Alhendawi, addressing the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues this week.

And some of the youth leaders from indigenous communities around the world have been speaking out at UN headquarters about what lies behind the epidemic of suicide and self-harm.

Matthew Wells reports.

Duration: 3’41”

Photo Credit
UN Photo/Manuel Elías