Related Experiment Videos
Suicidal behavior in African American individuals: current status and future directions
S E Chance1, N J Kaslow, M B Summerville
1Georgia State University, USA.
Cultural Diversity and Mental Health
|February 12, 1998
Summary
Suicide rates among African Americans have risen significantly over the last 50 years. This review examines demographic data, clinical findings, and theories to understand this concerning trend in suicidal behavior.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Psychiatry
- Sociology
Background:
- Historically low suicide rates among African Americans contrasted with a recent significant increase.
- Growing concern over rising suicide rates within the African American population over the past five decades.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review demographic data, clinical presentations, and theoretical explanations for suicidal behavior among African Americans.
- To understand the factors contributing to the rising trend of suicide in this demographic.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of existing literature.
- Analysis of demographic data, empirical findings, and clinical observations.
- Discussion of psychodynamic, psychosocial, and sociocultural theories related to suicidal behavior.
Main Results:
- Identified a significant upward trend in suicide rates among African Americans over the last 50 years.
- Reviewed diverse clinical presentations of suicidal behavior across the lifespan.
- Summarized key theoretical frameworks attempting to explain the phenomenon.
Conclusions:
- The rise in suicide rates among African Americans necessitates further investigation.
- A comprehensive understanding requires exploring multifaceted psychodynamic, psychosocial, and sociocultural factors.
- This review aims to stimulate more targeted empirical research into the causes of increased suicidal behavior.