Citation

Hagaman AK, Sivilli TI, Ao T, Blanton C, Ellis H, Lopes Cardozo B, Shetty S. J. Immigr. Minor. Health 2016; 18(4): 819-827.

Affiliation

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, USA. acq1@cdc.gov.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1007/s10903-015-0326-6

PMID

26758579

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.

Language: en