Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health
Volume 18, Issue 4, 2016, Pages 819-827

An Investigation into Suicides Among Bhutanese Refugees Resettled in the United States Between 2008 and 2011 (Article)

Hagaman A.K.* , Sivilli T.I. , Ao T. , Blanton C. , Ellis H. , Lopes Cardozo B. , Shetty S.
  • a School of Human Evolution and Social Change, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
  • b Garrison Institute, Garrison, NY, United States
  • c Center for Global Health, Division of Global Health Protection, Global Disease Detection Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States
  • d Division of Global Health Protection, Emergency Response and Recovery Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States
  • e Department of Psychiatry, Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
  • f Division of Global Health Protection, Emergency Response and Recovery Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States
  • g Division of Global Migration and Quarantine Division of Global Migration and Quarantine, Immigrant Refugee and Migrant Health Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States

Abstract

An increase of Bhutanese refugee suicides were reported in the US between 2009 and 2012. This investigation examined these reported suicides in depth to gain a better understanding of factors associated with suicide within this population. The study employed 14 psychological autopsies to elicit underlying motivations and circumstances for self-inflicted death and to identify potential future avenues for prevention and intervention among refugee communities. Disappointment with current (un)employment, lack of resettlement services and social support, and frustrations with separation from family were believed to contribute to suicidal acts. Suicide within refugee populations may be connected with experiences of family withdrawal, integration difficulties, and perceived lack of care. It is important to assess the effectiveness of improving refugee services on the mental health of migrants. More research is needed in order to better understand, and respond to, suicide in resettled populations. © 2016, Springer Science+Business Media New York (Outside USA).

Author Keywords

Mental health Refugee Psychological autopsy Suicide

Index Keywords

unemployment refugee human epidemiology Refugees middle aged statistics and numerical data social support ethnology Bhutan United States Young Adult Humans psychology Adolescent male female Socioeconomic Factors socioeconomics adult Suicide
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84954316568&doi=10.1007%2fs10903-015-0326-6&partnerID=40&md5=48f87ea3174ef67e9c44ea3b3f0ce0cb
DOI: 10.1007/s10903-015-0326-6
ISSN: 15571912
Cited by: 11
Original Language: English