Experiences of Reclaiming the Will to Live After Suicide Attempts Among Greenlandic Youth

Culturally responsive practices, strong social support, and professional skills are key to preventing youth suicide and promoting mental health through evidence-based strategies.

Background
Suicide remains a pressing public health issue in Greenland, particularly among youth. This PhD project builds on a prior master’s thesis exploring the experiences of frontline workers who participated in the national suicide prevention course Livsliniekurs in 2018. Participants included a psychologist, schoolteacher, educational counselor, after-school care worker, and a hospital nurse, all municipal employees, positioned as community gatekeepers in local suicide prevention efforts. The findings emphasized the importance of capacity building to strengthen competence in suicide prevention. These insights form the basis for the current PhD project, which investigates how young Greenlandic adults with lived experience of suicide attempts navigate their paths toward renewed life meaning.

Methods
Using a qualitative design, six individuals with a history of suicide attempts were interviewed in a pilot study. Thematic analysis focused on personal and structural challenges including colonial trauma, cultural loss, and adverse childhood conditions. The study further explores the role of culturally embedded practices in supporting mental health and resilience.

Results
Four protective factors were identified: (1) therapy at the national substance abuse treatment center helped process emotional loss and foster emotional expression; (2) Inuit-informed approaches, such as holistic trauma care, normalized suicidal thoughts; (3) nature-based activities offered space for reflection and identity; and (4) reconnecting with ancestral knowledge strengthened cultural pride.

Conclusion
Culturally responsive interventions, historical understanding, and nature-based healing can promote mental well-being and suicide prevention among young Greenlanders. These findings contribute to public health strategies both in the Nordic Countries and Across the Arctic, Canada, Alaska and Greenland that integrate Indigenous knowledge with professional practice.