Differences in the Epidemiology of Suicide in Asian Americans by Nation of Origin

Abstract

Epidemiological patterns of suicide for Chinese, Japanese and Filipino Americans in 1980 were compared to those for whites, African Americans and Native Americans. The suicide rates of Asian Americans were quite low and in the same rank order as the suicide rates in their home nations. The suicide rates for female Asian Americans were much closer to those of male Asian Americans than was the case for other ethnic groups. Asian Americans used firearms less often for suicide as compared to other ethnic groups. However, epidemiological differences were observed between suicide in Chinese, Filipino, and Japanese Americans. In general, the epidemiology of suicide for Asian Americans showed similarities to the results of epidemiological studies of Asians in their home nations. This suggests that the epidemiological findings have validity, and also that cultural factors have an important influence on the circumstances of suicide.