In many parts of the world colonial hegemony has
resulted in the dominance of the coloniser's language at the
expense of native languages. The suppression of indigenous
languages is intricately connected with mental health problems.
Indigenous youth with less knowledge of their native language
are six times more likely to have suicidal ideation than those
with greater language knowledge. Language suppression impairs
self-identity, wellbeing, self-esteem, and empowerment.
Just as language extinction can affect mental health, so
can reinstating a language. Aboriginal youth who are capable of
speaking their native language are less likely to consume alcohol
or use illicit substances at risky amounts, and are less likely to be
exposed to violence. Moreover, knowledge of indigenous
languages is associated with a decrease in youth suicide by 50% a
year.
The digital recording of indigenous languages might be
useful for documentation, restoration, promotion, and education.
Sufficient fund allocation is required to recover and store the
alphabets of indigenous languages. Separate indigenous language
educational institutes, in which researchers and mental health
professionals can work in cooperation, are also extremely
necessary. These concerted efforts might help result in the
renewal of a given indigenous language and potentially reduce
mental health problems.
Omar Faruk and Simon Rosenbaum.
The mental health consequences of indigenous language loss.
In: The Lancet Psychiatry. Internet:<www.thelancet.com> (adapted).