Teenage suicide

vlines
Tue, 09 Aug 2011 18:57:00 +0000

This looks at ethnic groups in the US only, does not talk about suicide of the same ethnic groups in their own, or other countries (if it applies).

And although I just skimmed the paper, I did not see a per-capita type of comparison.

Their own conclusion was that suicide probably has more to do with other factors then ethnic group, and that the key is learning to manage each group with cultural sensitivity.
(Note Indian Parent- this is where those special classes for doctors come in to help them develop a RELATIONSHIP with their patients and COMMUNICATE better with patients with different cultural beliefs-not tell their parents they are wrong and should be more like another ethnic group…hint hint).

From the paper:
It is difficult to identify effects from culture specifically versus effects from more general factors like socioeconomic level, education, acculturation, and geographic location (urban vs. rural, western states vs. eastern). A deeper understanding of specific cultural values and health beliefs may be the key to disentangling this problem. Until more definitive research is available, consulting knowledgeable colleagues about how to provide culturally sensitive care is important.Addressing risk factors is the first step to decreasing suicide in minority youth. Similar risk factors across ethnicities include mood and anxiety disorders, substance abuse disorders, lower socioeconomic and educational level, access to firearms, and family stresses. There are differences in prevalence and impact of some of these risk factors and in how to address them for each ethnic group in a culturally informed way. Risk factors that differ across ethnic groups include perhaps increased risk for African American and Latino adolescents from single parent households, possibly more of an impact from parent-child conflicts for Asian American and Native American adolescents, likely greater impact of poor school performance for Asian American adolescents, and perhaps a greater impact of friend suicide for Native American adolescents.