Addressing Suicide in Marginalized Communities: Unique Challenges and Culturally Responsive Approaches

The prevalence of recent suicidal ideation among sexual and gender minority populations increased in fall 2020, and they tended to experience longer wait times for immediate care needed. Sexual and gender minority populations had a lower prevalence of protective factors related to social support and health care access. More than 40% of sexual minority populations aged 15–44 years had lifetime suicidal ideation; 64.3% and 36.5% of the gender minority population had lifetime suicidal ideation and suicide attempts. Based on our study, a ground-up approach would begin with an analysis of demographics for existing suicide data to understand suicide risk for ethnoracial populations and subgroups.

suicide prevention for minority populations

CULTURE, SUICIDE STIGMA, AND THE PREVENTION OF SUICIDAL BEHAVIORS

suicide prevention for minority populations

Further, the American Indian population is vastly underrepresented in the NC YRBS data. Cumulatively, over time, Black adolescents have had the highest number of reports of suicide ideations, plans, and attempts. Prior research has primarily examined national and state-wide STB data from an aggregated level with limited attention to the layering of multiple identities (Baiden et al., 2020; Crenshaw, 1991; Ramchand et al., 2021). Finally, Table 5 presents the model where suicide attempt was the dependent variable. Again, females were found to have higher odds of planning suicide than males (OR 2.49; 95% CI 1.20, 2.10).

These main effect p-values result from using the Bisexual group as the reference. Sexual behaviors and sexual attractions by sexual identity group, stratified by sex at birth There were no significant pairwise differences among SMY with regard to race or ethnicity, though there were several age and gender-based differences (see Table 2). Then, we added sexual identity group as a main effect and interaction effects between sexual identity group and every other included effect, with estimated odds ratios described along with 95% confidence intervals for significant interactions. Consequently, the group of Drexel Latinx Cultural Identity Resources Straight youth was not partitioned. Suicide attempt history was determined from affirmative response to C-SSRS item, “Have you ever in your life made a suicide attempt?

suicide prevention for minority populations

Gatekeeper behavior

Their mission is to remove the barriers that Black people experience getting access to or staying connected with emotional health care and healing. The Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation’s vision is to eradicate the stigma around mental health issues in the African-American community. With their educational programs, Naseeha raises awareness within the community around mental health. Naseeha Muslim Helpline provides the Muslim community with the tools needed to address mental health. SEEMA offers families who feel shamed and isolated by the stigma of mental health a sense of belonging via social activities to bring our community members together.

suicide prevention for minority populations

The result will be tailored interventions that directly address community needs and decrease suicide risk. Individuals who have been impacted by suicide have key roles to play in informing suicide prevention efforts. Improving systems to address the needs of rural communities remains a key priority in suicide prevention plans and efforts. CDC’s 2022 data indicate that older adults above the age of 75 had the highest suicide rates among all age groups (CDC, 2024a). The model was developed by analyzing suicide research among African American, Asian American, American Indian and Alaska Natives, and LGBTQ+ adults, but culture expands beyond race and ethnicity, sexual orientation, and gender identity.

suicide prevention for minority populations

suicide prevention for minority populations

Rates climbed 26% from 2018, from 22.3 to 28.1 per 100,000 people. Now, the CDC’s new analysis finds 2021’s increase was worst among American Indian or Alaska Native people. The increase was cited as among the main factors driving a decline in American life expectancy that year.

  • They may also highlight the need for suicide-related treatment services in specific hospitals, counties, or regions.
  • Because the CCHS is cross-sectional, survival bias is possible; that is, only people who have survived suicide experiences can respond to the questionnaire.
  • We searched three electronic databases (Medline, Embase, and PsycInfo) for studies published from January 1, 2000 to July 3, 2020, reporting absolute or relative suicide rates amongst ethnic minority groups following a comprehensive search strategy (Supplementary File 1).
  • Very little work has been conducted to formally validate existing evidence-based assessment instruments in youth of color.

For example, participants might be asked, “What are the reasons why other Black youth like you may have thoughts about taking their own lives? Phase 3 utilizes qualitative interviews with key informants from Phase 2 to gather in‐depth information regarding the identified factors. In Phase 1, individuals respond to questions about similar others in their cultural group rather than their individual behaviors, using a free‐listing format. It is critical that theories of suicide‐related thoughts and behaviors not be blindly applied to Black adolescents without consideration of their cultural relevance. The perspectives of Black youth are also vastly underrepresented in treatment development research.


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