CONTENTS

About This Course

Table of Contents

1. The Nature and Scope of Suicide
2. Recognizing the Progressive Development of Suicide
3. Substance Abuse as a Major Contributor to Suicide
4. Suicide Across the Life Span
5. Special Populations and Suicide Risk
6. Prevention and Early Intervention for Suicide and Substance Abuse Problems

Supplements
References
Resources

Holding the Lifeline
A Guide to Suicide Prevention

Asian American Health Needs

The first ever conference on Asian American Suicide was held in New York City October 21-22, 2005, dedicated to "breaking the silence" on not only suicide, but depression among Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. This conference was sponsored by The New York Coalition for Asian American Mental Health (NYCAAMH), www.asianmentalhealth.org and The National Asian American Pacific Islander Mental Health Association (NAAPIMHA), www.NAAPIMHA.org.

Slowly, word is getting out about the mental health needs of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. Sadly, sometimes it takes a tragedy to bring help to others. The November 9, 2004 suicide of noted Chinese American writer Iris Chang, who died at age 36, has helped bring to light some of the hidden pressures and issues within this community. As a result of this suicide, and other factors, the Asian Community Mental Health Services has identified barriers to care for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. Stigma is the major barrier, stemming from lack of English proficiency, cultural shame about mental health problems, and cognitive and/or ethnic mismatches between therapist and clients. ref

The result of these barriers is that Asians and Pacific Islanders have the lowest utilization rates of mental health services among all ethnic populations, according to the U.S. Surgeon General's 2001 Report on Mental Health.

Gradually, there are a few more organizations committed to helping Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders with mental health problems and suicide in particular. As with other ethnic groups who have established their place in American society, as secret or hidden issues eventually come to light, the healing and learning can begin.