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.

Highlights

  • A growing need for a better understanding of mental health issues among immigrants and ethnic minorities has emerged worldwide [1,2,3,4,5]

  • Similar results were found among ethnic minorities in the Netherlands: Turkish and Surinamese females had a higher risk of attempted suicide, with a rate of

  • This study indicated that suicide rates among immigrant adolescents in Hong Kong depend on duration of residence: short-duration (10 years or more) with higher suicide rates than the local-born counterparts

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Summary

Introduction

A growing need for a better understanding of mental health issues among immigrants and ethnic minorities has emerged worldwide [1,2,3,4,5]. Migrants often experience physical and emotional trauma, including being victims of torture. This may be related to their risk of several psychological problems, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), mood and anxiety disorders, and panic attacks, with symptoms of sleeplessness, nightmares, and flashbacks. Several studies have suggested an increased risk of common mental disorders such as depression as well as psychotic disorders in immigrants as compared to native populations [6,7].

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