Attitudes towards suicide, Mental Health, Suicide Prevention, and Help-Seeking Behavior among African immigrants
Start Date
April 2020
End Date
April 2020
Major Field of Study
Psychology
Student Type
Graduate
Faculty Mentor(s)
Carlos Molina, EdD, LMFT
Presentation Format
Poster Presentation
Abstract/Description
Attitudes of immigrants toward mental health may differ depending on the country of origin, and level of acculturation after immigration (Calliess, Machleidt, Ziegenbein, & Haltenhof, 2007; Erdal, Singh, & Tardif, 2011; Whitley, 2006). African immigrants are a socially and culturally diverse group, and little is known about their beliefs about suicide (Eshun, 2006), the manifestation of mental health symptoms (Venters & Gany, 2011), and help-seeking behavior (Ting, 2010). Yet, as with other cultural minority groups, the presence of uninformed or culturally-biased attitudes toward mental health may contribute to maladaptive coping strategies such as, emotional inexpressiveness or substance abuse, increased psychopathology, and a reluctance to seek mental health services (Möller-Leimkühler, 2003; Renberg et al., 2008). Furthermore, a bidirectional relationship between poor mental health literacy and inaccurate perceptions about mental health may contribute to decreased understanding, access, and use of mental health services (Kageyama, 2012). Finally, encouragement of accurate, non-romanticized, and nonpunitive attitudes toward suicide is a crucial element in curtailing suicide (Stack & Kposowa, 2008); yet, attitudes toward suicide are generally unknown among African immigrants.
Attitudes towards suicide, Mental Health, Suicide Prevention, and Help-Seeking Behavior among African immigrants
Attitudes of immigrants toward mental health may differ depending on the country of origin, and level of acculturation after immigration (Calliess, Machleidt, Ziegenbein, & Haltenhof, 2007; Erdal, Singh, & Tardif, 2011; Whitley, 2006). African immigrants are a socially and culturally diverse group, and little is known about their beliefs about suicide (Eshun, 2006), the manifestation of mental health symptoms (Venters & Gany, 2011), and help-seeking behavior (Ting, 2010). Yet, as with other cultural minority groups, the presence of uninformed or culturally-biased attitudes toward mental health may contribute to maladaptive coping strategies such as, emotional inexpressiveness or substance abuse, increased psychopathology, and a reluctance to seek mental health services (Möller-Leimkühler, 2003; Renberg et al., 2008). Furthermore, a bidirectional relationship between poor mental health literacy and inaccurate perceptions about mental health may contribute to decreased understanding, access, and use of mental health services (Kageyama, 2012). Finally, encouragement of accurate, non-romanticized, and nonpunitive attitudes toward suicide is a crucial element in curtailing suicide (Stack & Kposowa, 2008); yet, attitudes toward suicide are generally unknown among African immigrants.
Comments
This presentation was accepted for the Scholarly and Creative Works Conference at Dominican University of California. The Conference was canceled due to the Covid-19 Pandemic