Suicidality and suicide prevention in culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities: A systematic review

Abstract

Australia has one of the largest multicultural populations in the world, with cultural and linguistic diversity (CALD) a defining feature. CALD populations have unique identities and experiences of mental health and suicide, with multicultural differences, trauma and experiences of discrimination and stigma pertinent to effective suicide prevention approaches. Very little is known however about suicide and suicidality among this population in Australia. This systematic review explored literature on suicidality and suicide prevention in CALD communities as a means of informing suicide prevention research, policy and practice in the Australian context. Five electronic databases (Medline, PsycINFO, Embase, Emcare, and CINAHL) were searched. Studies were included if they examined factors associated with suicidality or described suicide prevention initiatives in CALD populations, and were conducted in OECD countries. Study quality was assessed using the CASP qualitative checklist for qualitative studies and the Quality Assessment Tool for quantitative studies. Thematic analysis was used to identify key themes in the included studies. Eighteen studies met the criteria for inclusion, including ten qualitative and eight quantitative studies. No Australian studies were identified. Key themes included acculturation difficulties, stigma, the influence of social networks and family, heterogeneity of CALD populations, and suggested prevention strategies. The review found no Australian studies looking at suicidality or suicide prevention in CALD communities. It highlights the need for a greater focus across policy, research and evaluation on suicide prevention in Australian CALD communities.

Alcohol, Other Drugs Use and Mental Health among African Migrant Youths in South Australia

“…A study suggests that compared to other migrant groups, migrant youths are more likely to be at a higher risk of suicide [11]. Migrant and refugee youths experience an increased risk of self-harm behaviors and are vulnerable to suicidal ideation because of challenges to the social factors following resettlement, described previously [12]. Migrant and refugee youths are also at risk of increased alcohol and other drugs (AOD) use, which increases individual risks to mental health problems and suicide [13].…”

An Action Research Framework for Religion and the Stigma of Suicide

“…Suicide research has often lacked in reporting on diversity data such as religious affiliation, ethnicity, and disability status (Cha et al 2017). Although there has been a strong focus on individual psychological factors (Franklin et al 2017), suicide research rarely accounts for ecological or sociological factors such as culture, religious identity, and involvement, or stigma in a generalizable manner (Franklin et al 2017;Cha et al 2017;Bowden et al 2020). Furthermore, aside from studies focusing specifically on small minority groups (i.e., a small group of refugee immigrants), religious and cultural beliefs, practices, involvement, behaviors, coping resources, and support systems are essentially entirely overlooked and rarely measured in suicide research (Franklin et al 2017;Cha et al 2017;Bowden et al 2020) or even included in measures of suicide stigma (Ghasemi et al 2015).…”

“…Although there has been a strong focus on individual psychological factors (Franklin et al 2017), suicide research rarely accounts for ecological or sociological factors such as culture, religious identity, and involvement, or stigma in a generalizable manner (Franklin et al 2017;Cha et al 2017;Bowden et al 2020). Furthermore, aside from studies focusing specifically on small minority groups (i.e., a small group of refugee immigrants), religious and cultural beliefs, practices, involvement, behaviors, coping resources, and support systems are essentially entirely overlooked and rarely measured in suicide research (Franklin et al 2017;Cha et al 2017;Bowden et al 2020) or even included in measures of suicide stigma (Ghasemi et al 2015). Incorporating a more multidisciplinary perspective of suicide and stigma through the inclusion or consideration of theological, sociocultural, ethnoracial, philosophical, historical, political, and liberal arts perspectives in addition to a number of interdisciplinary clinical and research perspectives may function to more effectively integrate issues of intersectionality, culture, and religion in suicide research, prevention, intervention, postvention, and in the development of clinical practice guidelines.…”

Healthcare staff's views on responding to suicide and self‐harm: Part I

“…Self‐harm and suicide constitute serious public health concerns and are of crucial consideration for policymakers and healthcare professionals 1 . Globally, there are close to 800,000 suicides per year 2 .…”