Suicide Across Cultures

Over 700,000 people globally take their own lives every year, which equates to one death by suicide every 40 seconds. Among teenagers and young adults, suicide is the second most common cause of death after road traffic accidents. Overall, almost three times as many men than women die by suicide. There are, however, significant variations in the patterns of suicide across cultures, gender, age, geographic locations, and personal history, due to the complex relationship of how these factors converge. One thing that remains consistent, is that every death is a tragedy for family, friends, and all colleagues. Traditions of suicidal behaviour are deeply rooted in any given culture, and so examining the cultural influences can be of paramount importance in the understanding and assessment of a suicidal crisis. Suicide Across Cultures offers the opportunity to expand knowledge beyond majority groups and to look further than the dominant paradigm in suicide research, treatment, and prevention. With the majority of global suicides taking place in non-Western societies, minority groups are an essential area in suicide research. Written by experts from around the world, this fascinating textbook includes topics and regions that are not usually covered in texts on suicide and self-harm. It provides a unique, and important insight for academics and students in psychiatry, as well as anyone from the wider public with an interest in the psychiatry of suicide across cultures.