Short description:

Suicide Among Racial and Ethnic Minority Groups pulls together cutting-edge empirical research from general cultural diversity literature and applies it to suicide assessment, treatment, and prevention theory and practice. By looking outside of the limited cross-cultural studies done within suicidal populations, the contributors ? all established experts in both multicultural counseling and suicidology ? expand the available empirical literature base in order to provide a deeper look into how culture can act as an important catalyst in suicidal intentions.

Long description:

Suicide is increasingly understood and predicted as an intersection of biological, psychological, cognitive, and sociocultural factors. We have some basic knowledge of these factors and how they interact, but presently we know very little about how culture can play a role as a variable that influences suicide. Suicide Among Racial and Ethnic Minority Groups will go a long way towards filling that gap by pulling together cutting edge empirical research from general cultural diversity literature and applying it to suicide assessment, treatment, and prevention theory and practice. By looking outside of the limited cross-cultural studies done within suicidal populations, the contributors ? all established experts in both multicultural counseling and suicidology ? expand the available empirical literature base in order to provide a deeper look into how culture can act as an important catalyst in suicidal intentions.

Following theoretical overviews, the text focuses on six broad ethic groups classified in the literature (African American, American Indian, Asian American, European American, Hawaiian & Pacific Islander, and Hispanic), with a main chapter devoted to each, relating each culture to suicide research, highlighting specific variables within the culture that can influence suicide, and presenting appropriate treatment considerations. A final section of the book consists of practical applications within specific settings (therapy, outreach, schools, psychiatric services) and prevention and training issues.

"The contributors look to be well-qualified, but I don?t know their writings and scholarly work. Surely it would make good sense to recruit, say, therapists who have worked with and written on therapy with particular ethnic groups ? like Sue and Sue with Asian Americans. Then get them to ponder the problem of working with suicidal clients. So, is this book going to be exceptional or just a clever idea for a book with the same old theories, statistics, and treatment/prevention tactics that we in the field are familiar with? We don?t know yet. It depends on the content of the chapters! There are books on suicide in African-Americans, Native Americans, etc, but not a comparative one. The book is probably timely, therefore ? the first of its kind. The book does not appear to have special features. I think that, assuming there are no new theories or tactics by cultural group, having long clinically-oriented sections would help market the book ? case studies, therapy experiences, etc with those of different ethnic groups. There?s not enough here yet to make a sensible recommendation. A meaningful review requires a couple of specimen chapters. So I would choose (b) ? I need to see more."

- David Lester, Ph.D., editor, Katie?s Diary

"This is an excellent book proposal written by two highly qualified authors. My overall impression is very positive, although I also have some questions for the Editors. I will first of all respond to the list of questions you provided and then discuss my marginal notes on the proposal. The audience targeted in the proposal is limited to teaching faculty and their students. The book will be written as a textbook for relevant courses. The secondary audience is much broader to include persons working with suicides or in high stress contexts where suicide might be considered. As a text it would be most useful in classes where suicide was a central theme. The book could also be useful as a second text in clinical/counseling classes where multiculturalism and suicide were important topics. I do believe the market for this book is growing as we encounter increased levels of stress in our society where suicide is becoming a more frequently discussed topic. My overall reaction to the proposal is very positive and I believe there is a substantial market for the book. I like the way the proposal is grounded in the cultural context so the phenomena of suicide can be understood in context. The difficulty is this book will have to develop its own place in the market. Suicide is certainly a timely topic and can be networked to the emerging field of "Disaster Counseling." I expect the book would have a 5-10 year shelf life and might well be revised into a new edition later. Suicide is a big topic but I think the proposal does a good job reviewing the field. I recommend that the book be published even though the few courses I teach as a retired faculty would not use the book as a text."

- Paul Pedersen, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus, Syracuse University

"I think that there is a market; the editors rightly state, "Unfortunately, what we know about culture as an important variable that influences suicides is modest". Indeed, much of our understanding of suicide may be culture specific. There is caution. Shneidman (1985) noted that when making "cross-cultural comparisons, do not make the error of assuming that a suicide is a suicide." This statement can be repeated in 2005. There are few studies and volumes on the topic of the book; cross-cultural study is rare in suicidology. We simply do not know enough about Native Americans, Asian Americans, etc. And, if we do not know, we cannot effectively treat. This volume is unique. This is reason enough to publish this book. Thus, on the question, the veteran psychologist, psychiatrist, nurse, social worker, grief counsellor should read this book. All should be the audience. The secondary audience? There will be lay readers, many survivors in different racial and ethnic groups. Survivors often search for meaning; they may find the text of interest. They want to know about their people, their loved ones. Thus, on the question of audience, there is a market. Racial and ethnic topics, issues, or whatever we call it, is not only of past interest and current interest, but will be a growing and enduring one. People want to know their history, their people ? where they come from, who they are and where they are going. Suicide is no different. The wedding of the two will no doubt increase the interest. The book is timely; much of research (see Routledge?s Death Studies, Archives of Suicide Research) is extending into racial, ethnic, country area. A read of any issue of the Routledge journals will show that fact. I resonated to the proposal (this is not common for me). Is the material timely? What would be the book?s potential shelf-life? Absolutely. Again, look at any issues of Death Studies or Archives of Suicide Research. Simply stated: I like the proposal. It is timely. It is marketable. It is interesting?not only to African Americans, but many diverse people will want to read it. That is matchless."

- Antoon Leenars, Ph.D., Past President of both the American Association of Suicidology (AAS) and the Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention (CASP)

Table of Contents:

Leong, Leach, Suicide Among Racial and Ethnic Minority Groups: An Introduction. Part I: Theories and Models. Leenaars, Suicide: A Cross-cultural Theory. Lester, Theories of Suicide. Part II: Research on Racial and Ethnic Groups. Utsey, Stanard, Hook, Understanding the Role of Cultural Factors in Relation to Suicide Among African Americans: Implications for Research and Practice. Duarte-Velez, Bernal, Suicide Risk in Latino and Latina Adolescents. Leong, Leach, Gupta, Suicide Among Asian Americans: A Critical Review with Research Recommendations. Nahuna, Andrade, Examining Suicide and Suicidal-related Behaviors Among Indigenous Pacific Islanders in the United States: A Historical Perspective. Alcantara, Gone, Suicide in Native American Communities: A Transactional-ecological Formulation of the Problem. Part III: Prevention, Assessment, Treatment, Training and Research. Walker, Townley, Asiamah, Suicide Prevention in U.S. Ethnic Minority Populations. Westefeld, Range, Greenfeld, Kettman, Testing and Assessment. Rogers, Whitehead, Ethnic Considerations in Intervention and Treatment with Suicidal People. Leach, Leong, Directions for Future Research.