Clinical and Psychosocial Profiles of Asian Immigrants Who Repeatedly Attempt Suicide: A Mixed-Method Study of Risk and Protective Factors.
BACKGROUND
Persons who repeatedly attempt suicide comprise a highly distressed population that warrants the understanding of risk and protective factors in assessment and treatment. There is a dearth of literature on Asian immigrants' suicidal behavior.


OBJECTIVE
The study aimed to capture the clinical and psychosocial profiles of Asian immigrants who made repeated suicide attempts.


METHODS
We utilized retrospective chart reviews (n = 44) and in-person interviews (n = 12) in two urban public hospitals.


RESULTS
The study samples shared major suicide risk factors identified in studies of other populations. Participants of the interview sample suffered from a pervasive sense of hopelessness stemming from social isolation, self-stigma, feelings of failure in their life roles, and perceptions of rejection by their families. Conversely, psychological well-being--feeling cared for and able to reciprocate care for others--appeared to be a protective factor for participants who improved in their functioning and recovery.


CONCLUSIONS
The study lays the groundwork for further research on suicide risk and protective factors.
1 Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College, City University of New York, NY, USA.
Irene W
IW
Chung
2 Department of Psychiatry, Injury Control Research Center for Suicide Prevention at the University of Rochester Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.
Eric D
ED
Caine
3 Elmhurst Hospital Center, New York, NY, USA.|4 Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, NY, USA.
Charles T
CT
Barron
5 Bellevue Hospital, New York, NY, USA.|6 New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
Mary A
MA
Badaracco
D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D001208:Asia / Q000208:ethnology; D001213:Asian / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D034462:Dissent and Disputes; D004522:Educational Status; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006212:Hallucinations / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055118:Medication Adherence / Q000523:psychology; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009519:New York City; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D065840:Protective Factors; D012008:Recurrence; D012111:Residence Characteristics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000453:epidemiology; D012934:Social Isolation / Q000523:psychology; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013997:Time Factors; D014478:Unemployment / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult; D016903:Drug Monitoring
Asian immigrants; protective factors; repeated suicide; suicide risk