BLACK ADOLESCENTS SUICIDE

Black Adolescents Suicide



Black Adolescents Suicide

Introduction

Suicide is a terrible event that is decidedly much frequent in our culture, but suicide attempts among blacks in United States is largely inexplicable and appears to conflict with chronological information of black coping ways, traditions, and beliefs. Nevertheless, the ratio of suicide attempts amongst adolescent blacks has gone up to a stage that is as much as compared to the white teens. However, the suicide examples amongst black teens are distinguished to be noticeably dissimilar as compared to the white teens (Olfson et al, 2002). The ratio of suicide attempt among whites is evident to rise with age factor, whereas suicide peaks amongst young blacks and steadily decreases during their middle age.

Suicide Statistics for Black Americans

The Department of Vital Statistics Scientific and Technical Information Branch statements for the year 1982 depict the ratio of suicide attempts for black adolescents between the age group of 15 - 24 years as 10.1 each out of 100,000. As far as the black women are concerned, the ratio of suicide attempts for the age group of 15 - 24 years is 2.1 each out of 100,000. While the ratio of suicide attempts among white men between the age group of 15 - 24 years was 20.7 each out of 100,000, and for white women of the similar age category the ratio was 6.1 each out of 100,000 (Brady et al, 2005).

This unbelievable verdict lifts a lot of queries regarding black teen's suicides and its causes. Baker's demonstrative evaluation of the tables of black suicide attempts provides exciting information (Miller et al, 1997).

The model 17 males and 39 females (a total of 56 suicide attempts) exposed a proportion of 1:2.3 black males to black females. As far as the female suicide attempts are concerned they were found to be young; 54 percent had made a prior attempt, and identification of either sentimental sickness (33 percent) or a changing response with depressive elements (31 percent) was made. As far as male suicide attempts are concerned, most of them were adult; 76 percent had a prior psychiatric record and 59 percent had psychotic diagnosis. When taking into consideration the psychiatric indicative groups, black males with main psychiatric illness, e.g., neurosis or mood disorder, are more expected than females to attempt suicide; black males also have a stronger propensity for alcoholism and drug violence (Birckmayer & Hemenway, 1999).

Causes of Suicide ...