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Online Notes
Socio-cultural
Study of Suicide
Attempters in
the
Chinese
Immigrant
Community of New
York City
Requires:
Adobe Reader
This
presentation
discusses the
outcome of a
pilot study of
suicide
attempters in
the Chinese
immigrant
community of New
York City.
Based on the
narratives of 31
adult
participants who
were of low
socio-economic
background but
varied in age,
gender and
immigrant
status, the
study delineated
a common pathway
of their suicide
attempts as a
culmination of
an interactive
process of
stressors,
mental illness,
and diminutive
help-seeking
behavior that
was compounded
by
immigrant-specific
issues, cultural
meanings of
distress and
social barriers
to resources.
There were
pervasive and
persistent
transactional
dynamics between
the multiple
dimensions of
the
participants’
lives –
intrapersonal
and
interpersonal
stress, physical
and mental
health, cultural
mores, and
socioeconomic
hardships –
which finally
converge to
yield a reality
that leads to
suicidal
ideation and
attempt.
The study’s
findings
underscore the
importance of
adopting an
integrative
stance of
inquiry in
suicide studies
and initiating a
broad-based
community effort
in suicide
prevention. The
participants’
narratives about
their recovery
process also
illuminates the
issues of human
connection and
immigrants’
resiliency as
potential
resources to
modify cultural
stigmas and
help-seeking
behavior.
Press
Coverage
World Journal
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