Jacob Spallek1, Anna Reeske2, Marie Norredam3, Signe Smith Nielsen3, Jessica Lehnhardt2, Oliver Razum2. 1. 1 Department of Epidemiology and International Public Health, School of Public Health, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany jacob.spallek@uni-bielefeld.de. 2. 1 Department of Epidemiology and International Public Health, School of Public Health, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany. 3. 2 Department of Public Health, Danish Research Centre for Migration, Ethnicity and Health, Section for Health Services Research, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Concerns about increased suicide risk among immigrants to European countries have been raised. We review the scientific literature on differences in suicide among immigrants compared with the majority populations in Europe's major immigration countries. METHODS: We searched the databases PubMed and PsycINFO for peer-reviewed epidemiological studies published in 1990-2011, which compared suicide risks of adult immigrant groups with the risks of the majority population in European countries. Hits were screened by two researchers. RESULTS: We included 24 studies in the review. No generalizable pattern of suicide among immigrants was found. Immigrants from countries in which suicide risks are particularly high, i.e. countries in Northern and Eastern Europe, experienced higher suicide rates relative to groups without migration background. Gender and age differences were observed. Young female immigrants from Turkey, East Africa and South Asia are a risk group. CONCLUSION: Immigrants 'bring along' their suicide risk, at least for the initial period they spend in the immigration country. Health-care planners and providers need to be aware of this 'imported risks'. However, most immigrant groups do not have an increased suicide risk relative to the local-born population; some may even experience substantially lower risks.
BACKGROUND: Concerns about increased suicide risk among immigrants to European countries have been raised. We review the scientific literature on differences in suicide among immigrants compared with the majority populations in Europe's major immigration countries. METHODS: We searched the databases PubMed and PsycINFO for peer-reviewed epidemiological studies published in 1990-2011, which compared suicide risks of adult immigrant groups with the risks of the majority population in European countries. Hits were screened by two researchers. RESULTS: We included 24 studies in the review. No generalizable pattern of suicide among immigrants was found. Immigrants from countries in which suicide risks are particularly high, i.e. countries in Northern and Eastern Europe, experienced higher suicide rates relative to groups without migration background. Gender and age differences were observed. Young female immigrants from Turkey, East Africa and South Asia are a risk group. CONCLUSION: Immigrants 'bring along' their suicide risk, at least for the initial period they spend in the immigration country. Health-care planners and providers need to be aware of this 'imported risks'. However, most immigrant groups do not have an increased suicide risk relative to the local-born population; some may even experience substantially lower risks.
Authors: Elaine M McMahon; Paul Corcoran; Helen Keeley; Mary Cannon; Vladimir Carli; Camilla Wasserman; Marco Sarchiapone; Alan Apter; Judit Balazs; Raphaela Banzer; Julio Bobes; Romuald Brunner; Doina Cozman; Christian Haring; Michael Kaess; Jean-Pierre Kahn; Agnes Kereszteny; Ursa Mars Bitenc; Bogdan Nemes; Vita Poštuvan; Pilar A Sáiz; Merike Sisask; Alexandra Tubiana; Peeter Värnik; Christina W Hoven; Danuta Wasserman Journal: BJPsych Open Date: 2017-11-30