Online Program

325073
African-American Community Member Perspectives towards Suicide and Stigma of Suicide


Monday, November 2, 2015 : 2:50 p.m. - 3:10 p.m.

Wyatt Demilia, B.S., Teachers College, Columbia University, New York City, NY
Xinlin Chen, B.S., NYU School of Medicine, New York City, NY
Rong Rong (Ruby) Han, B.A., Teachers College, Columbia University, New York City, NY
Tatiana Philippova, B.S., Harris School of Public Policy Studies, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Kavitha Rao, B.S., Teachers College, Columbia University, New York City, NY
Sarah Reitz, B.A., Teachers College, Columbia University, New York City, NY
Monica Martinez, B.A., Mental Health Association of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
Daniel Esparza, B.A., Mental Health Association of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
Luba Botcheva, Ph.D., Mental Health Association of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
Eduardo Vega, MA, Center for Dignity, Recovery and Empowerment, San Francisco, CA
Background/Purpose: An understanding of culture-specific meanings of suicide and its stigma is unexplored. Such research is especially important for African-Americans, considering the rise in suicide rates among African-American youth. The purpose of this study is to examine African-American perspectives towards suicide and stigma to address this issue through culturally-appropriate interventions.

Methods/Approach: We analyzed 21 semi-structured interviews with participants from California self-identified as African-American. Interviews focused on the stigma of suicide. They were coded using a “grounded theory” open framework illuminating mechanisms that could be leveraged to decrease stigma of suicide.

Findings: Participants considered stigma of suicide to be a barrier to help-seeking. Perception of suicide as being culturally and religiously unacceptable stokes stigma. However, while many participants viewed suicide as “something that White people do” or unforgivable sin, religion served as a protective factor to discourage suicide and a source of social support. Stigmatizing responses to suicide attempters include social distancing and perceived dangerousness. “Slow suicide” – hopelessness leading to risky behaviors, such as selling drugs or getting involved with gangs – was considered a culturally-unique expression of suicide. Participants also discussed lack of certain potentially efficient prevention programs.

Implications: Conceptions of suicide differ from the dominant view of suicide as single life-ending action. Systemic issues such as discrimination and economic injustice disproportionately affect this group. Culturally-unique protective factors such as religion reveal suicide’s complex relation to cultural constructs. Results reinforce the need for understanding culture-specific meanings of suicide on a community level towards developing culturally-appropriate programs to address suicide.

Learning Areas:

Diversity and culture
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Provision of health care to the public
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
Describe culture-specific meanings of suicide on a community level. Discuss culturally-appropriate programs that address suicide.

Keyword(s): Suicide, Mental Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: As an M.A. candidate and research assistant for Dr. Lawrence Yang and Dr. George Bonanno, I have worked on numerous studies covering topics from suicide, trauma, and community stigma, my three scientific interests. My responsibilities have included data collection, data entry, as well as drafting write ups of completed research.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.