Citation

Calliess IT, Machleidt W, Ziegenbein M, Haltenhof H. Nervenheilkd. 2007; 26(6): 487-491.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2007, Georg Thieme Verlag)

DOI

10.1055/s-0038-1626890

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The assessment of the level of psychic functioning and the capability of self-control in patients of different ethnic origin is a challenge. Suicidal behaviour in terms of its frequency, meaning, and manner is very much dependent on the cultural context in which it occurs. There is a (not undisputed) relation between the degree of difference between the home and host cultures and the suicide rates. Suicide attempts in immigrants may represent a hazardous attempt to solve underlying cross-cultural conflicts. The process of migration itself shows a typical course with definable phases. In the phase of decompensation emotional vulnerability is high, which is why cross-cultural conflicts are usually particularly prominent. Therefore, in this stage of the migration process the risk for suicidal behaviour is increased. For effective therapeutic crisis interventions, it is consequently necessary to be aware not only of the model and the structure of the migration process including its psychodynamics, but also to differentiate between the attitudes towards suicide in the two separate cultures. Furthermore, the need of migrants for social support systems, in particular the family, has to be considered as equal in importance as the utilization of culture-specific resource strategies. © 2007 Schattauer GmbH.

Language: de

Keywords

human; social support; mortality; suicide attempt; suicidal behavior; crisis intervention; Suicidal behaviour; article; psychodynamics; family therapy; mental instability; Migration; hazard assessment; Change of culture; hazard ratio; Theory of acculturative stress