Suicide in Immigrants: An Overview

Abstract

Globalization in the Internet era has rendered job mobility and migration frequent and important social phenomena, with implications at several different levels of societies. In addition, migration, either voluntary or forced, is accompanied by significant changes in suicide ideation, frequency of suicide attempts and rates of suicide of people that migrate compared to the host country. However, several different peculiarities render the interpretation of the interaction of migration-suicidality as quite complex. This article provides an overview of the most significant aspects that contribute to this complexity, in order to provide the reader with a road map for better orientation in a world of rapidly changing landscapes.

Suicidal Ideation and Attempt among Immigrants in Europe: A Literature Review

“…However, one study suggested that it might not necessarily be acculturation that plays the main role in young immigrant girls' suicidal behaviour [13]. Rather, it is the interaction with other factors such as relationship with parents that plays a role in suicidal behavior among immigrant girls.…”

Association between Suicide Ideation and Attempts and Being an Immigrant among Adolescents, and the Role of Socioeconomic Factors and School, Behavior, and Health-Related Difficulties

“…)?” (response: none/1–5/≥6); that of tobacco with the question: “During the last 30 days, how many cigarettes a day did you smoke?” (response: none/≥1 cigarette per day); that of cannabis with the question: “During the last 30 days, how many occasions have you used any form of cannabis?” (response: none/≥1); and that of other illicit drugs with the question: “During the last 30 days, how many occasions have you used any form of other illicit drugs (mushrooms, ecstasy, LSD, etc. )?” (response: none/≥1) [2,6,11,28]. …”

“…The integration opportunities may vary across host countries. Immigrants may meet difficulties in terms of language, socioeconomic, employment, and cultural integrations as well as physical and mental health, substance use and cares [6]. However, certain immigrants may have strong family networks or protective cultural or religious traditions [7].…”

“…However, certain immigrants may have strong family networks or protective cultural or religious traditions [7]. Immigrant suicide behaviors are a complex problem [6]. The literature is abundant for adults but rather scarce for adolescents.…”

“…According to a review of literature, little research has focused on suicide behaviors in immigrant youth, most research does not differentiate ethnic minorities, and the risk of suicide behaviors varies by ethnicity and country of settlement [8]. The available studies have reported that various immigrant groups can be at an increased or lower risk of suicide behaviors than the majority population [6,7,9]. A study in the Netherlands found that the rates of suicide attempts among Turkish and South Asian-Surinamese female adolescents were higher than that among their Dutch counterparts but Moroccan females had a lower rate [10]; this study also reported that that physical and sexual abuse and an impaired family environment contributed to non-fatal suicide behavior of females across ethnicities but these factors as well as low socioeconomic class and educational level did not fully explain the risk in Turkish and South Asian-Surinamese females [10].…”