Does culture make a difference? Racial/Ethnic patterns of completed suicide in San Francisco, CA 1987-1996 and clinical applications

Completed suicides in San Francisco were examined in the racial groups of A frican Americans, Asians, Caucasians, Hispanics, and Native Americans for a 10-year period (1987-1996). Comparisons of rates across race and gender Sh owed that both Caucasian men and women had the highest rates. Significant d ifferences were found when racial groups were compared across age groups, g ender, and method, but no significant difference was found in the use of fi rearms as a method of suicide. Differences and similarities are illustrated by comparing Caucasian and Asian patterns of suicide in the areas of (1) s uicide in Asian homelands, (2) cultural context, and (3) cultural beliefs r egarding psychopathology. A framework relating cultural variables to predis posing client variables is suggested for clinicians and researchers.