Canına kıymak – ‘crushing life energy’: a qualitative study on lay and professional understandings of suicide and help-seeking among Turkish migrants in the UK and in the Netherlands

Abstract

(2016) Canınakıymak -'crushing life energy': a qualitative study on lay and professional understandings of suicide and help-seeking among Turkish migrants in the UK and in the Netherlands, International Journal of Culture and Mental Health, 9:2, 182-196, DOI: 10.1080/17542863.2016 Currently, little is known about the views that Turkish migrants hold towards suicide, which may differ from the narratives held by native inhabitants of their host countries. Central to improving the provision of mental health services, furthering our knowledge of these views is important. The aim of this research was to explore Turkish cultural understandings on suicide and help-seeking for suicide. A qualitative study included data from 6 focus groups and 7 individual interviews with 38 Turkish-speaking lay people and 4 key informants living in the Netherlands or the UK during the year 2014/2015. Through the analysis of participants' stories and narratives, the following key themes emerged in relation to suicide: suicide as an escape from failure and as a failure in itself; acculturation orientation; parenting style; and shame and stigma. There were more similarities than differences between the themes among laypersons and key informants from two countries. Canına kıymak (crushing life energy) was a strong metaphor for personal distress. Suicide was perceived as a failing of responsibilities towards the family and community. Future research should aim to give voice to all ethnocultural groups to further the present understanding of suicide and help-seeking processes in these communities. ARTICLE HISTORY

Exploring the cultural flexibility of the ACT model as an effective therapeutic group intervention for Turkish speaking communities in East London

“…The Turkish diaspora in Europe consists of three main groups: Kurdish, mainland Turks and Turkish Cypriot communities (Eylem et al ., 2016). These groups migrated to Europe for different historical and political reasons (Enneli et al ., 2005).…”

Reducing Suicidal Ideation among Turkish Migrants in the Netherlands and in the UK A Pilot RCT of a guided Online Intervention

“…Turkish-speaking lay people and 4 professionals living in the Netherlands or in the UK during the year 2014/2015 (21). Based on the findings, we included some well-known idioms and metaphors describing psychological distress and suicide in Turkish language (see appendix B for examples).…”

“…Cultural barriers such as stigma and shame attached to suicide might prevent them from utilizing these interventions (21)(22). Additionally, poor language proficiency of the help-seeker and cultural mismatch between the mental health professional and the help-seeker often result in communication barriers during the help-seeking process (23).…”

“…In this study we have used an e-mental health intervention for suicidal ideation, which was developed for the general population in the Netherlands by van Spijker and colleagues (36). We have adapted this intervention for the Turkish migrants in the Netherlands and in the UK (21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27)(28)(29)(30)(31)(32)(33)(34)(35)(36)(37). Cultural adaptation is defined as 'the systematic modification of an evidence-based treatment or intervention protocol to consider language, culture, and context in such a way that it is compatible with the individual's cultural patterns, meanings, and values' (38).…”

Reducing Suicidal Ideation among Turkish Migrants in the Netherlands and in the UK: The Feasibility of a Randomised Controlled Trial of a Guided Online Intervention

“…There are certain disadvantages of the former face-to-face interventions which are especially true for ethnic minorities (3,22). Cultural barriers such as stigma and shame attached to suicide might prevent them from utilising these interventions (22,23). Additionally, poor language pro ciency of the helpseeker and the cultural mismatch between the mental health professional and the help-seeker often result in communication barriers during the helpseeking process (23)(24)(25).…”