Intergenerational Conflicts, Cultural Restraints and Suicide: Experiences of Young African People in Adelaide, South Australia

Abstract

This study aimed to explore determinants of increased suicide deaths among African youth in South Australia. The paper reports on the intersectionality between intergenerational conflicts and fatal suicides in the target population. The study employed a qualitative inquiry approach, studying 31 young people in the African community in Adelaide. Intergenerational conflicts were identified as pervasive, with negative implications for the affected individuals, their families, and the entire African community. These led to turmoil in the community, youth isolation, reduced social interactions, stress and fatal suicides. Intergenerational conflicts and the increased number of suicide deaths were identified as a significant, emerging public health issue within the African community in South Australia. A need to re-orient resources to develop and implement programs to address mental health problems and provide high quality, informed and culturally responsive services that support the community were identified as a priority.

Telling Our Stories: Resilience during Resettlement for African Skilled Migrants in Australia

“…People choose to migrate for various reasons including to access new employment or education and better opportunities [ 33 , 34 ], and to escape civic unrest or conflict [ 8 , 35 ]. Although there is now a significant emerging body of knowledge on African migrants in Australia, most of these studies have focused on refugees, so the focus of this study on skilled migrants addresses a significant gap in the extant literature [ 9 , 35 ].…”

“…Although there is now a significant emerging body of knowledge on African migrants in Australia, most of these studies have focused on refugees, so the focus of this study on skilled migrants addresses a significant gap in the extant literature [ 9 , 35 ]. Despite the significant challenges including racism [ 9 , 32 ], difficulty accessing employment [ 2 ], discrimination [ 9 ] intergenerational issues [ 8 , 36 ] and micro-aggressions [ 37 ] that seem to dominate experiences of African migrants during their resettlement, most draw positivity and optimism from religion, faith, hope, and community-oriented attitudes which appear to nurture resilience and social connections. Positivity and optimism have been identified in the literature as factors that build resilience among migrant groups [ 29 , 38 ].…”

“…The migration of Africans to Australia diversifies the groups of migrants who come to resettle and seek opportunities in this country. Understanding how migrants adapt and acculturate within destination countries post-migration is an emerging field of research with significant implications for policy and healthy resettlement [ 7 , 8 ].…”

Alcohol, Other Drugs Use and Mental Health among African Migrant Youths in South Australia

“…Participants were purposively selected to ensure we had representation from different age groups, year of arrival, and countries of origin from Central, Eastern, and Western Africa. Although the majority of the participants had a refugee background, participants who did not have a refugee background were also included recognizing that the youth population is susceptible to a mental health issue in their new country [6]. Because we have included both migrant and refugee youths, we will from here on use African migrant youths to denote both participants with or without a refugee background and we acknowledge the overrepresentation of those with a refugee background among the study participants.…”

“…During the process of immigration, migrant and humanitarian refugees are exposed to multiple stressors [5,6]. Studies among African migrants (the majority of whom have a refugee background in Australia) have reported significant stressors relating to inadequate employment, housing, education, and integration following settlement [7][8][9].…”