Suicidal Ideation and Healthy Immigrant Effect in the Canadian Population: A Cross-Sectional Population Based Study

Abstract

Understanding suicidal ideation is crucial for preventing suicide. Although “healthy immigrant effect” is a phenomenon that has been well documented across a multitude of epidemiological and social studies—where immigrants are, on average, healthier than the native-born, little research has examined the presence of such effect on suicidal ideation. The objective of this study is to investigate if there is a differential effect of immigration identity on suicidal ideation and how the effect varies by socio-demographic characteristics in the Canadian population. Data from the Canadian Community Health Survey in year 2014 were used. Multivariate logistic regression was employed. Our findings indicated that recent immigrants (lived in Canada for 9 or less years) were significantly less likely to report suicidal ideation compared with non-immigrants. However, for established immigrants (10 years and above of living in Canada), the risk of suicidal ideation converged to Canadian-born population. Moreover, male immigrants were at significantly lower risk of having suicidal ideation than Canadian-born counterparts; whereas, female immigrants did not benefit from the “healthy immigrant effect”. Our findings suggest the need for targeted intervention strategies on suicidal ideation among established immigrants and female immigrants.

Suicide and Self-Harm in Recent Immigrants in Ontario, Canada: A Population-Based Study

“…16,17 Suicide and self-harm rates in adult immigrants to Canada are not known, and analysis of contextual factors related to immigration and suiciderelated behavior is scant among immigrants to Western countries. 14,18 Substantial heterogeneity in rates of mental illness within immigrant populations exists, and traditional risk factors for mental illness and other poor health outcomes apply differently to immigrants than to native-born populations. [19][20][21][22] Suicide rates in Canada are 11 to 12 per 100,000 population, and 45 Canadians are hospitalized each day for self-inflicted injuries.…”

“…6 –10 Emerging evidence suggests that immigrant youth in Canada are at lower risk of suicide and self-harm compared with native-born, 11 but the converse has been reported among adult immigrants in other industrialized countries. 1,12,13 Immigrants to Canada may experience good mental health outcomes due to the “healthy immigrant effect” 14,15 —that is, immigrants arrive in better health than their native-born counterparts—and Canada’s immigration policies that select for a large proportion of immigrants who are able to contribute to Canada’s economy. However, immigrants to Canada may have more difficulty accessing mental healthcare services as outpatients.…”

Segmenting or Summing the Parts? A Scoping Review of Male Suicide Research in Canada

“…54 Childhood maltreatment was associated with increased suicide risk among homeless men (n ¼ 489; 60% males, 40% Aboriginal). 53 Recent male immigrants, compared to long-term immigrant residents, were reported to have lower rates of suicidal ideation 46 and suicide 51 ; however, the suicide risk among recent and long-term immigrant men was 3 times higher than immigrant females. 50 Long-term male residents, those middle-aged or older and/or living in neighborhoods with low income levels had increased risk of suicide.…”

“…Among 9 articles, homeless (n ¼ 3), immigrant (n ¼ 3), incarcerated (n ¼ 2), and opiate using (n ¼ 1) men featured as marginalized groups with increased suicidality and/or suicide risk. Eight studies employed quantitative designs [46][47][48][49][50][51][52][53] and one utilized mixed methods. 54 Of the suicides in Toronto between 1998 and 2012 (n ¼ 3,319), almost 9% (n ¼ 290) were homeless or precariously housed persons.…”

Towards a Greater Understanding of Suicidal Behaviour and Its Prevention

“…A study from Canada, a country primarily formed of immigrants and their descendants, investigated the “healthy immigrant effect” (immigrants are often found to be healthier both physically and mentally) and whether it exists for suicidal ideation [ 12 ]. The authors concluded that recent immigrants were less likely to report suicidal ideation than non-immigrants, but for established immigrants (living in Canada for 10 or more years), the risk of suicidal ideation was similar to non-immigrants.…”