African-American Women and Suicide

Paper Summary:

This paper reveals that, although suicide rates are at epidemic proportions, suicide rates for African-American women are unusually low. The paper reviews the statistical patterns of suicide in the United States and in minorities around the world and discusses the plight of the African-American woman in relation to psychosocial and psychological issues. The paper then discusses coping devices used by African-American women that are associated with lower suicide rates.

Outline:
Plight of the African-American Women
Protective factors

From the Paper:

"Eight hundred thousand (800,000) died by their own hand throughout the world in 2000; more than died that year in all of the wars and armed conflicts (McKenzie, Serafty & Crawford, 2003). With an average of 30,000 deaths per year, suicide is the ranked as the eighth leading cause of death in the United States, with the risk to white females being double that of all non-white minority groups combined (Mann, 2000). Among African Americans aged 25 to 44, suicide was considered the seventh leading cause of death in 2000 (Kaslow, Thompson, Meadows, Chance, Puett, Hollins, Jessee & Kellermann, 2000). In 2002, 1,939 African Americans committed suicide; of these only 306 were female, providing a male to female suicide ratio of 5.34:1 ("African American," 2004). Pryor (2006) states that in the United States, every 78 seconds at least one woman will make a suicide attempt, however only one woman will actually commit suicide every 90 minutes."

Sample of Sources Used:

• African American Suicide Fact Sheet (2003). American Association of Suicidology. Retrieved on September 29, 2006 from http://www.suicidology.org/associations/1045/files/AfricanAmer2002.pdf
• Anglin, D. M., Gabriel, K., Kaslow, N. J. (2005). Suicide acceptability and religious well-being: a comparative analysis in African American suicide attempters and non-attempters. Journal of Psychology and Theology. Retrieved on September 29, 2006 from http://www.highbeam.com/doc/ 1G1:134195716.html
• Barnes, D. H. & Bell, C. C. (2003). Paradoxes of black suicide. Preventing Suicide - The National Journal. Retrieved on September 29, 2006 from http://www.nopcas.com/articles/article_details.php?post_id=8
• Gibbs, J. (2000). Status Integration and Suicide: Occupational, Marital, or Both? Social Forces. Retrieved on September 29, 2006 from http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-62408509.html
• Gordon, E. (2005, March 22). Interview: Dr. Alvin Poussaint and Amy Alexander discuss mental illness, depression and suicide in the African-American community. NPR Special [Radio broadcast]. Washington, DC: National Public Radio. Retrieved on September 29, 2006 from http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-111778932.html

More papers on African-American Women and Suicide:

• Analytical Essay # 129754 : "Suicide and the African American Woman"
• Analytical Essay # 134353 : "African-American Women and Drugs"
• Article Review # 148338 : "Three Psychological Research Articles"

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