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Suicide Among Racial and Ethnic Minority Groups

Theory, Research, and Practice

• Edited by Frederick T.L. Leong, Mark M. Leach

• Price: $40.00 $36.00
• Binding: Hardback
• Pages: 352
• Published by: Routledge
• Publication Date: 19th December 2007
• ISBN: 978-0-415-95532-4

About the Book

Suicide is increasingly understood and predicted as an intersection of biological, psychological, cognitive, and sociocultural factors. We have some basic knowledge of these factors and how they interact, but presently we know very little about how culture can play a role as a variable that influences suicide. Suicide Among Racial and Ethnic Minority Groups will go a long way towards filling that gap by pulling together cutting edge empirical research from general cultural diversity literature and applying it to suicide assessment, treatment, and prevention theory and practice. By looking outside of the limited cross-cultural studies done within suicidal populations, the contributors – all established experts in both multicultural counseling and suicidology – expand the available empirical literature base in order to provide a deeper look into how culture can act as an important catalyst in suicidal intentions.

Following theoretical overviews, the text focuses on six broad ethic groups classified in the literature (African American, American Indian, Asian American, European American, Hawaiian & Pacific Islander, and Hispanic), with a main chapter devoted to each, relating each culture to suicide research, highlighting specific variables within the culture that can influence suicide, and presenting appropriate treatment considerations. A final section of the book consists of practical applications within specific settings (therapy, outreach, schools, psychiatric services) and prevention and training issues.

Table of Contents

Leong, Leach, Suicide Among Racial and Ethnic Minority Groups: An Introduction. Part I: Theories and Models. Leenaars, Suicide: A Cross-cultural Theory. Lester, Theories of Suicide. Part II: Research on Racial and Ethnic Groups. Utsey, Stanard, Hook, Understanding the Role of Cultural Factors in Relation to Suicide Among African Americans: Implications for Research and Practice. Duarte-Velez, Bernal, Suicide Risk in Latino and Latina Adolescents. Leong, Leach, Gupta, Suicide Among Asian Americans: A Critical Review with Research Recommendations. Nahuna, Andrade, Examining Suicide and Suicidal-related Behaviors Among Indigenous Pacific Islanders in the United States: A Historical Perspective. Alcantara, Gone, Suicide in Native American Communities: A Transactional-ecological Formulation of the Problem. Part III: Prevention, Assessment, Treatment, Training and Research. Walker, Townley, Asiamah, Suicide Prevention in U.S. Ethnic Minority Populations. Westefeld, Range, Greenfeld, Kettman, Testing and Assessment. Rogers, Whitehead, Ethnic Considerations in Intervention and Treatment with Suicidal People. Leach, Leong, Directions for Future Research.