Grant: Travel Awards - Institute Community Support

Suicide is a major public health concern which ranks among the leading causes of death in Canada. Unfortunately many individuals that attempt suicide often suffer from mental illness. Many previous studies have demonstrated that individuals who have immigrated to Canada or who are of a minority ethnic group face an increased risk for developing a mental illness. This increased risk is strongly attributable to the unique stressors associated with settling in an unfamiliar country and being viewed as a minority citizen. In addition to the difficulties of living with a mental illness, these stressors may increase the risk for suicide among this population. My study is the first to investigate whether immigration and ethnicity are significant risk factors that should be considered when evaluating suicide risk among mentally-ill patients. Among a cohort of 380 schizophrenia and schizoaffective-depressive patients recruited for this study, we collected clinical information including self-identified ethnicity, migration history, and suicidal behaviour. Cross-sectional clinical assessments were done using psychiatric self-report and interview questions. My analysis demonstrates trends in suicidal behaviour between visible minority and Caucasian patients. Immigrants also show a significantly earlier age of onset for psychosis compared to non-migrant patients. These results confirm the increased susceptibility for schizophrenia among the immigrant population and the risk for suicide among minority groups. Current citizenship practices in Canada require that migrants undergo a series of medical examinations upon their arrival. I suggest that similarly, mental health evaluations be conducted for the first few years following arrival. By focusing on migrants and refugees (who may have escaped conflict zones), physicians may be able to identify early signs of mental deterioration and prevent the risk of suicide in these individuals through early intervention.