Myths About Suicides Among Asian-Americans:

http://www.apa.org/pi/oema/resources/ethnicity-health/asian-american/suicide.aspx

 

Suicide Among Asian-Americans

Myths About Suicides Among Asian-Americans

Myth: Asian-Americans have higher suicide rates than other racial/ethnic groups.	Fact: The suicide rate for Asian-Americans (6.10 per 10,000) is about half that of the national rate (11.5 per 10,000).
Myth: Asian-Americans have higher suicide rates than other racial/ethnic groups.	Fact: Asian-American college students had a higher rate of suicidal thoughts than White college students but there is no national data about their rate of suicide deaths.
Myth: Young Asian-American women (aged 15-24) have the highest suicide rates of all racial/ethnic groups.	Fact: American-Indian/Alaskan Native women aged 15-24 have the highest suicide rate compared to all racial/ethnic groups.

Statistics on Asian-Americans’ Suicide-related Outcomes

The following information is based on national suicide rates in 2007:^{1, 2}

• Suicide was the 8th leading cause of death for Asian-Americans, whereas it was the 11th leading cause of death for all racial groups combined.

• Suicide was the second leading cause of death for Asian-Americans aged 15-34, which is consistent with the national data (the second leading cause for 15-24 year-olds and the third leading cause for 25-34 year-olds).

• Among all Asian-Americans, those aged 20-24 had the highest suicide rate (12.44 per 100,000).

• Among females from all racial backgrounds between the ages of 65 and 84, Asian-Americans had the highest suicide rate.

• Asian-American men had lower suicide rates relative to those of White and American Indian/Alaskan Native men for almost all age groups.