This article compares the prevalence and sociodemographic correlates of suicidal ideation and suicide attempts in three Hispanic populations in the US: Mexican Americans, Cuban Americans, and Puerto Ricans. Lifetime reports of suicidal thought and behavior of adults participating in the 1982-1984 Hispanic Health and Examination Survey (HHANES) were analyzed. Puerto Ricans reported consistently higher rates of suicidal ideation and attempts than either Mexican Americans or Cuban Americans. The correlates of suicidality varied by ethnicity. The differential suicide risks in these Hispanic populations point to the importance of the sociocultural context in understanding suicidality and the need for groupspecific interventions.
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