Examining the Complexities of Suicidal Behavior in the African American Community

Abstract

Once considered a "White thing," suicide is now the third leading cause of death for African Americans, behind only homicide and unintentional injury. Although the rates of suicide for African American women remain low and relatively unchanged, the rates for African American men have increased dramatically during the past 20 years. The changes in the suicide rates for African American youth have motivated researchers to investigate protective and risk factors associated with suicide. In light of some of the current findings that identify religious participation as a protective factor against suicide for African Americans, an alternative perspective is provided that examines the contribution of spirituality and specific religious practices on gender differences in suicide risk.

Cumulative Trauma, Hyperarousal, and Suicidality in the General Population: A Path Analysis

“…Yet several studies have indicated that elderly people also are at increased risk for suicidal ideation and behavior (e.g., Mireault & DeMan, 1996), a nonlinear phenomenon that may have contributed to the relatively small age effect found in the current study. In this regard, various studies suggest that the relationship between various aspects of suicidality and demographics such as gender, age, and race is complex, and findings can be quite variable (Casey et al, 2006;Griffin-Fennell & Williams, 2006;Hawton, 2000).…”

Associations Between Reasons for Living and Diminished Suicide Intent Among African-American Female Suicide Attempters

“…Given the well-established association between suicidal behavior and both spirituality/religiosity (Griffin-Fennell and Williams, 2006;Kaslow et al, 2006;Meadows et al, 2005) and symptoms of depression (e.g., Barraclough, 1998, Joe et al, 2006;Kaslow et al, 2004;, the present study also sought to demonstrate that the relations between reasons for living and both suicidal intent and suicide attempt lethality exist above and beyond the effects of depressive symptoms and spiritual well-being. Given the well-established association between suicidal behavior and both spirituality/religiosity (Griffin-Fennell and Williams, 2006;Kaslow et al, 2006;Meadows et al, 2005) and symptoms of depression (e.g., Barraclough, 1998, Joe et al, 2006;Kaslow et al, 2004;, the present study also sought to demonstrate that the relations between reasons for living and both suicidal intent and suicide attempt lethality exist above and beyond the effects of depressive symptoms and spiritual well-being.…”

“…Individuals who attempt suicide are markedly more vulnerable to future suicide attempts and/or deaths than are those without a history of suicide attempts (Brown et al, 2000;Mann et al, 2005). Given that many researchers have previously noted that cultural variables seemingly ''protect'' African-Americans from suicide death (e.g., Early and Akers, 1993;Fitzpatrick et al, 2008;Griffin-Fennell and Williams, 2006;Kaslow et al, 2004;Meadows et al, 2005;Walker, 2007), we suggest that having reasons for living may be a protective factor associated with suicide processes (i.e., intent and lethality) that ultimately affects suicide outcomes among African-American women. Given that many researchers have previously noted that cultural variables seemingly ''protect'' African-Americans from suicide death (e.g., Early and Akers, 1993;Fitzpatrick et al, 2008;Griffin-Fennell and Williams, 2006;Kaslow et al, 2004;Meadows et al, 2005;Walker, 2007), we suggest that having reasons for living may be a protective factor associated with suicide processes (i.e., intent and lethality) that ultimately affects suicide outcomes among African-American women.…”

Prison Inmates’ Suicidal Ideation in China: A Study of Gender Differences and Their Impact

“…Although males have a higher rate of completed suicides, females attempt suicide more often (Griffin-Fennell & Williams, 2006;O'Connor & Sheehy, 1997). In a study of completed suicides in the United Kingdom, females had a mean of 3.28 prior suicide attempts, whereas males averaged only 2.3 prior suicide attempts (O'Connor & Sheehy, 1997).…”