Etnicidade e representações sobre a morte entre indígenas residentes na cidade de São Gabriel da Cachoeira (Alto rio Negro, AM) - observações preliminares sobre casos de suicídio entre adolescentes indígenas.

Abstract

The theme of death in human societies has been the subject of numerous approaches in various areas of knowledge. Dealing with this subject is relevant, since life and death are two sides of the same coin, which is human existence. This study seeks to analyze the representations of death among the ethnic groups of the city of São Gabriel da Cachoeira, verifying the causes of mortality in general and making preliminary observations about the cases of suicide among indigenous adolescents in the urban context in question. We adopted as a research base the bibliographic and documental studies on the subject, counting on the collaboration of the institutions and health professionals who work in that region. The indigenous ethnic groups represent 70% of the local population studied, and their conceptions about death take into account the social organization, cosmology and conception of health, disease, healing, body and supernatural. About the indigenous mortality rate in Amazonas, suicide appears in 4th place (7.22%). Among the apparent causes would be the lack of a functional family structure and the neglect of social issues involving the adolescent period. It is not possible to say that suicides result from these facts alone, since the growing population densification, the way urban space has been organized, the social rhythms and the various forms of symbolization resulting from this process project specific responses. There are several attempts of professionals and entities to explain these facts. It is necessary for institutions and society to develop strategies to deal with this issue. The accompaniment of parents and children is fundamental, because the loss by death of a significant person can bring serious consequences to both the physical and psychological health of all involved. The issues related to indigenous mortality as well as the cases of suicide among adolescents and young people in the urban space of São Gabriel da Cachoeira require an approach that goes beyond the factual data, verifying from them the representations presented by the indigenous segments about the transcendence of human existence marked by death.