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Suicidal behavior among immigrants

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Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Introduction

This paper explores the association between suicidal behavior and immigrant status among Israeli residents from the former USSR (FSU).

Method

The Israeli component of the World Mental Health Survey (INHS) provided information on suicide ideations, plans and attempts. The INHS samples included Israel-born Jews (n = 2,114) and post-1990 immigrants from the FSU (n = 814). Data on completed suicide were extracted from the countrywide report of the Ministry of Health.

Results

The controlled lifetime rates of suicidal behavior among FSU immigrants were significantly higher than among their Israel-born counterparts. A higher risk was found in the first years following immigration among young adults with higher education and without a spouse. Completed suicide rates were higher among the FSU immigrants than in the general Israeli population with the largest risk among young-adult immigrant men.

Discussion

The findings are consistent with previous studies and are discussed in the context of both suicide rates in the country of origin and migratory stressors. Preventive measures are suggested.

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Acknowledgments

This survey was conducted jointly with the World Health Organization/World Mental Health (WMH) Survey. The Israeli component was funded by the Ministry of Health, The National Institute for Health Policy and Health Services Research and the National Insurance Institute. The preparation of this manuscript was supported by the Ministry of Immigrants Absorption, Israel. We thank the staff of the WMH Data Collection and Data Analysis Coordination Centers for their helpful assistance. Dr. D. Levinson coordinated the Israeli component of the WMH; the Central Bureau of Statistics conducted the field survey; and Drs. A. Ponizovsky and J. Mirsky translated the questionnaires into Russian. Dr. B. Lev and Professor G. Bin Nun provided encouraging and practical support. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and should not be construed to represent the views of the Israeli Government nor of any of the sponsoring organizations. The authors disclose no conflict of interests.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel

    Julia Mirsky & Pnina Dolberg

  2. Brown University, Providence, RI, USA

    Robert Kohn

  3. Mental Health Services, Ministry of Health, Jerusalem, Israel

    Itzhak Levav

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  1. Julia Mirsky
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  4. Itzhak Levav
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Correspondence to Julia Mirsky.

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Mirsky, J., Kohn, R., Dolberg, P. et al. Suicidal behavior among immigrants. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 46, 1133–1141 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-010-0280-5

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