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Suicide Attempts Among Adolescent Latinas

Suicide Attempts Among Adolescent Latinas. Divine Sebuharara and Candice Brown Multicultural Health Issues HLTH 47800/HPEG 58700 May 8, 2013. HEALTH.

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Suicide Attempts Among Adolescent Latinas

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  1. Suicide Attempts Among Adolescent Latinas • Divine Sebuharara and Candice Brown • Multicultural Health Issues • HLTH 47800/HPEG 58700 • May 8, 2013

  2. HEALTH • “A state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity” (World Health Organization, 2013) • Western medicine vs. holistic medicine (Lion, 2010) 2

  3. SUICIDE • International issue • One suicide every 40 seconds; by 2020, one every 20 seconds (Befrienders Worldwide, 2013) • Two most common risk factors: substance abuse and depression • Males are 4 times more likely to commit suicide and use more lethal methods • Suicide rates among youth increased at fastest rate • Within the US • 10th leading cause of death; 3rd for individuals ages 15-24 3

  4. SUICIDE ATTEMPTS • Nonfatal, self-inflicted destructive act with the explicit or implied intent to die (Hausmann, Kuhlberg, Zayas, Noelle, and Cintron, 2012) • 25 suicide attempts for every suicide in the US (CDC, 2012) • 100-200 suicide attempts for every suicide among individuals aged 15-24 (CDC, 2012) 4

  5. GENDER AND RACIAL/ETHNIC DISPARITIES • Females are more likely to have suicidal thoughts, attempt suicide, and use less lethal methods (CDC, 2012) • Adolescent Latinas have the highest rates of suicidal ideation and suicide attempts (CDC, 2012) 5

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  7. SUICIDE ATTEMPTS AMONG ADOLESCENT LATINAS • Hispanic female students reported feelings of sadness everyday for 2 or more consecutive weeks more often than their white peers (Guiao, 2004) • 30% of Latinas between ages 13-19 have given serious thought to suicide (Bridge, J. A., Greenhouse, J. B., Weldon, A. H., Campo, J. V., & Kelleher, K. J., 2008) • 15% had attempted, compared to the 9% of their White or African American counterparts (Bridge, J. A., Greenhouse, J. B., Weldon, A. H., Campo, J. V., & Kelleher, K. J., 2008) 7

  8. FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH SUICIDE ATTEMPTS • Familism • Parent-adolescent conflict • Internalized behaviors • Self - esteem • Acculturation and assimilation • Biculturalism • Large responsibilities • Stigmatized nature of mental health • Lack of recognition by parents as a “call for help” 8

  9. PARADOX OF INTENT AND LETHALITY • Adolescent Latina’s have high intent to die, but attempt suicide using methods low in lethality • Suggest that there is a disconnect between the mind, body, and soul 9

  10. AREAS OF WEAKNESS IN THE LITERATURE • Research is not deep enough • State the problem, but limited development of causation of the problem • Limited connection to History • Policies that have created current condition • Blame of the victim not of the system • Over generalization • More emphasis on race than ethnicity 10

  11. WHAT DO WE DO NOW • Development of local programs • Life is Precious Program • Located in New York City • Works on the development of the mind, body, and soul within a person • Weekend support group for parents 11

  12. SYSTEMATIC ISSUES • 60 percent of Latinas who have received mental health care attempt suicide again • The longer a Latino is living in the United States (at least 13 years or above), the more likely they will have mental health concerns and rates similar to mental illness for the broader US culture • “A cultural group is defined as much by those outside of the group as by those inside (Quartz, 1988, p. 3).” 12

  13. ETHNIC STUDIES PROGRAM • A comparative discipline that focuses on the experiences and lessons of racial marginalized groups in order to gain a better understanding of Usian Society and history • Shift the attitude from the need for Latinas to acculturate and to assimilate to a space where they can celebrate who they and what they have done for this country. • Cultural identity is important in all youths construction of self identification. 13

  14. TAKE-HOME POINTS • Holistic approach • Specific adolescent Latina experiences • Society’s role • Ethnic Studies Programs 14

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