Social factors in suicide

Q: Immigrants are at higher risk for suicide than the citizens of the host country.

A) True

B) False

Answer: B

Contrary to popular belief, immigrants are at less risk for suicide than the citizens of the native country. Though no single theory can explain this, the postulation is that immigrants in a new country still have hope of doing better after leaving the hopelessness of their home country behind. On the other hand, natives may feel more hopeless with the given system. 

Although the data came from a European country (reference #1), it appears applicable to other contexts. Other social protective factors against suicide are:

• Being married
• Pregnant 
• A parent
• Socially connected
• Financially independent
• Religious 

#psychiatry

References:

1. Brennecke G, Stoeber FS, Kettner M, et al. Suicide among immigrants in Germany. J Affect Disord 2020; 274:435.

2. Hung GC, Cheng CT, Jhong JR, et al. Risk and protective factors for suicide mortality among patients with alcohol dependence. J Clin Psychiatry 2015; 76:1687.

3. Miola A, Tondo L, Pinna M, et al. Suicidal risk and protective factors in major affective disorders: A prospective cohort study of 4307 participants. J Affect Disord 2023; 338:189.

4. Qin P, Mortensen PB. The impact of parental status on the risk of completed suicide. Arch Gen Psychiatry 2003; 60:797.