Korean-Canadian Immigrants’ Help-Seeking and Self-Management of Suicidal Behaviours

Abstract

Suicidal behaviours are intricately connected to culture, oftentimes reflecting traditional norms and attitudes to health help-seeking and self-management. To describe Korean-Canadian immigrants’ help-seeking and self-management for their suicidal behaviours, 15 participants completed individual semistructured indepth interviews. Using constant comparison analysis, participants’ narratives were analysed to inductively derive two themes: 1) resisting professional help; and, 2) developing effective self-management strategies. The study findings suggest that most participants preferred and opted for self-management strategies rather than seeking professional help. Most participants’ reluctance to seek professional or peer help was underpinned by a fear of the stigma associated with traversing cultural norms by harbouring a mental illness and seeking help for that ailment. In addition, a lack of knowledge about available professional health care services, along with language and cultural barriers, led some participants to perceive mental health services as ineffectual. Participants’ determination to self-manage their suicidality was influenced by cultural norms around honouring and protecting family, and a range of spiritual and religious beliefs also emerged to counter impulses for acting on suicidal thoughts. By shedding light on Korean-Canadian immigrants’ experiences with suicidal behaviours, the findings offer some guidance toward developing culture-sensitive suicide prevention programs.