SUICIDE AMONG IMMIGRANTS FROM THE INDIAN SUBCONTINENT - A REVIEW

Objective: Studies of suicide among immigrants from the Indian subcont inent (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka) were examined to in crease awareness of suicide risk and to better understand social and p sychological factors contributing to suicide in this group. Methods: A n online search was conducted of MEDLINE for the years 1966 to 1994 an d Psychological Abstracts for the years 1974 to 1994, and all referenc es on completed suicides in the target population were selected for re view. Results: Suicide rates of young women immigrants from the Indian subcontinent are consistently higher than those of their male counter parts and of young women in the indigenous populations of the countrie s to which they immigrate. Suicide rates among older men in this immig rant group have been reported to be low, although reports are less con sistent. Use of violent methods such as hanging, burning, and poisonin g is common among both men and women. A disproportionately higher numb er of immigrant Hindus commit suicide. Family conflict appears to be a precipitating factor in many suicides, whereas mental illness is rare ly cited as a cause. Depression, anxiety, and domestic violence may co ntribute to the high rates. Affective disorders may be underdiagnosed in this population. Conclusions: More research is needed on the epidem iology of psychiatric illnesses and their contribution to suicide in t his group.