Suicide Risk among Immigrants and Ethnic Minorities: A Literature Overview.

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Alberto Forte, Sapienza University of Rome; Federico Trobia, Sapienza University of Rome; Flavia Gualtieri, Sapienza University of Rome; Dorian A. Lamis, Emory University; Giuseppe Cardamone, Azienda USL; Vincenzo Giallonardo, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli; Andrea Fiorillo, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli; Paolo Girardi, Sapienza University of Rome; Maurizio Pompili, Sapienza University of Rome
• Language: English
• Date: 2018-07-08
• Publisher: MDPI
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: © 2018 by the authors.
• License: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15071438
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
• ISSN: 1661-7827
• Volume: 15
• Issue: 7
• Start Page: 1438
• End Page: 1438
• Keywords: prevention; suicide; immigrants; ethnic minorities
• Research Categories: Psychology, Behavioral; Biology, Neuroscience; Health Sciences, General

Abstract

Recent studies have demonstrated that immigrants and ethnic minorities may be at higher risk of suicidal behaviour as compared to the general population. We conducted a literature search to identify studies in English from 1980 to 2017 related to suicide risk among immigrants and ethnic minorities. Six hundred and seventy-eight reports were screened, and 43 articles were included in the qualitative synthesis of the review. Some studies reported lower rates of suicide attempts, while other findings suggested higher rates of suicidal behaviour and deaths among immigrants as compared to the native population. Also, a positive correlation was found between suicidal behaviour and specific countries of origin. Non-European immigrant women were at the highest risk for suicide attempts, a group which included young women of South Asian and black African origin. Risk factors among migrants and ethnic minorities were found to be: language barriers, worrying about family back home, and separation from family. The lack of information on health care system, loss of status, loss of social network, and acculturation were identified as possible triggers for suicidal behaviour. Overall, results suggest that specific migrant populations and ethnic minorities present a higher risk of suicidal behaviour than native populations, as well as a higher risk of death by suicide.