We investigated the correlation of belonging to an ethnic cultural minority and nonfatal suicidal acts (suicide attempts), suicidal ideation, and self-injurious behavior in a group of 494 psychiatric inpatients at the time of admission. The frequency of nonfatal suicidal acts was 15.3% in the group of immigrants (n=111) and 8.9% in the group of German patients. This difference is significant, but the impact of belonging to the immigration group covaries with the impact of female gender and young age (below 45 years). If all three factors come together the risk of suicide attempts increases threefold. In the immigrant group alone, nonfatal suicidal acts were correlated with "transcultural conflicts". In the group of suicide attempters, we tried to assess the risk of suicide with the help of the "suicide risk list" (Pöldinger) and the suicidal intention with the help of the "suicide intention scale" (Pierce). Additionally, we investigated the method of suicide attempts and categorized them into two groups: "hard" and "weak" methods. We did not find any significant difference between immigrants and German patients concerning suicide risk, suicide intention, and choice of the method. Although there are some methodological shortcomings, we interpret our findings as an indication that immigrant inpatients are more involved in managing the additional stress which results from their immigration. Perhaps nonfatal suicidal behavior represents a risky, but insufficient attempt at "solving" transcultural problems in the immigrant group.

Auto-aggressiveness immigrants suicidal behavior Psychiatry

statistical analysis Germany immigrant risk conflict minority group sex ratio human middle aged Ethnic Groups Stress, Psychological Aged Suicide, Attempted Depressive Disorder Self-Injurious Behavior Cross-Sectional Studies Humans mental patient Cross-Cultural Comparison Acculturation Aged, 80 and over cultural factor automutilation Incidence Article Southern Europe suicidal behavior major clinical study adult Sex Factors age distribution Emigration and Immigration