Answer

Minority Youth Suicide

Introduction

            Minority youth suicide is a growing problem in today’s society that threatens the cohesion that exists amongst family members. For one reason or another, a section of the minority youth resolves to suicide as a means of problem resolution. Minority youth members include those citizens of the United States of America whose origin varies from African American to Hispanic, Native American to Asian pacific or an individual with an Asian Indian origin. Therefore, minority youth suicide talks about suicide amongst members of the youth classified under the above origins.

Minority youth Suicide amongst African Americans

            Members of the minority youth who live in an urban setting are at a great risk of exposure to violence than those residing anywhere else. If not a direct victim, then they are likely to witness a close acquaintance facing social violence on a regular basis. It is further observed that poor development results ranging from drug abuse, depression, violence and anxiety are all contributed by the violence witnessed in areas of residence.

            Survey figures have it that one in three students has been a witness to violence at the community level while they are still in either junior high or senior high school. Out of a total enrolment between sixth and eighth grades, 93% of all the students had faced a violent encounter at one point or another. The immediate outcome of this exposure to violence may have a direct psychological impact on the minority youth therefore incubating suicidal thoughts amongst them. (Marshall, 2016)

            In a recent survey, substance abuse among members of the minority youth was higher in those who have a record of exposure to violence than to those without. Substance abuse by this section of the minority youth enhanced their suicidal thoughts as a result of post-traumatic stress disorder. Violence as stated makes members of the minority youth vulnerable to experiencing suicidal thoughts.

Latina Adolescent Suicide

            In a different study, suicide is ranked in third place as the leading cause of death among members of the minority youth aged between 10 and 24 years. The figures are much higher among Latina minority youths than any other ethnic group with 21% of them having had suicidal thoughts at one point in their youth while 14% of the members under this category having attempted to commit suicide. Notable reasons for having suicidal thoughts among the Latina minority youth are similar to those of the African American group and they include; mental health conditions, drug and substance abuse.

            Among the Latina, several measures were considered to be useful in helping overcome this suicide menace among the minority youth. Some of these measures include the ones discussed below.

Family and adult support- A close bond between parents and their Latino children is a great measure at curbing suicide. The existing relationship between the parents and the children enables them to collectively discuss challenges facing the children and ways of appropriately solving them without the child having suicidal thoughts. According to this study, parental support was measured in the following way (1). How close a child felt with the parent? (2). How much the child thought the parent cared for them and? (3) How warm the parent is to the child most of the time?

Peer support- The parameters used to evaluate peer support are similar to those of parental support and in addition to those, social acceptance among the youth also determines whether their thoughts will be suicidal or not. Feeling like a social outcast in the minority has most times cultivated suicidal thoughts amongst them. This feeling of rejection by fellow peers that often results from having poor social skills that eventually makes an individual lonely.

Reciprocated friendships- In a survey conducted in a group, respondents were asked to nominate their female best friends and female friends and a score given for every nomination. The survey also established that for every nomination, an individual was nominated back as a best friend by the initial respondent. Friendships that are reciprocated tend to be supportive in many ways including the mental health development. Such associations are important among the minority Latina youth to avoid feeling depressed and eventually developing suicidal thoughts as the support accorded is mutual in all aspects.

The idea of having a suicidal friend amongst the minority Latina youth links to having increased chances of having suicidal thoughts as well as attempting to commit suicide. Moreover, the cultural set up of the native Latina group. In this cultural setting, respected for the elders in a major factor and as the elders who in most cases are the parents all together advice against such practices then most members of the minority youth would heed this call and distance themselves from such suicidal thoughts. To that effect, greater parental involvement was linked directly with reduced suicidal thoughts and attempted. Teachers, like parents, also play a critical role in reducing the suicidal attempts of Latina minority youth by offering guidance to their students.

Research conducted has proven that the existing mutual relationship between a mother and her daughter also reduces the risk of minority youth suicidal attempts. Mothers offered the emotional support that was important in overcoming such suicidal thoughts to the adolescents who are the minority youth.

The relationship between violence and youth suicide indicators Among Asian American youth

            Among the Asian American minority youth, some of the causes of suicidal thoughts as well as attempts may not be different from those of African American and Latinas. The reasons specific to this group of minority youth are as discussed.( Hong, Espelage, & Kral, ,2011).

            Being subject to physical violence of any form may be a push factor for an individual in this group to have suicidal thoughts and even attempt to take his/her own life. Physical violence may manifest in various forms varying from being shoved or hit on the body to the extent of causing actual physical harm. This cultivates a feeling of inadequacy in an individual thereby driving them to having suicidal thoughts.

            Peer pressure and sexual coercion may also cause an individual to develop suicidal thoughts. When an individual learn of inappropriate rumours doing rounds about them, this may drive them to actually having suicidal thoughts to try and escape being associated with such rumours. Sexual coercion also makes a minority youth to feel defiled and dirty such that they see no reason for further existence. It is this thought that incubates suicidal thoughts among members of the minority youth but this can be overcame.

            Emotional abuse, social status, intimidation and exclusion are also other reasons that drive members of the minority youth to develop suicidal thoughts. Being emotionally abused in the form of being called names, teasing, attacking an individual’s reputation and making embarrassing remarks about an individual may drive them into a mental state that pushes them towards suicide as a means of ‘escaping’ these advances. Abuse may manifest in different forms ranging from racial to sexual. These are direct causes of suicidal thoughts in the minority youth of this category just to mention a few.

Implications of minority youth suicide

            According to research, suicidal indicators share common grounds in terms of protective factors and risks across several domains of influence. This generalizes community and individual environments that show prejudice. Despite increasing research, efforts to come up with and implement effective violence and suicide prevention measures, some isolated cases still emerge.

Conclusion

            Minority youth suicide is major challenge facing the young population and society as a whole that needs to be addressed urgently in order to secure future generations. In order to achieve this, mental health education needs to be a priority in the education system so as to secure and develop the young members of society. Mental health education is a great tool to use in the fight against minority youth suicide. A confident individual will not seek suicide as method of problem resolution but rather consult other available avenues and methods at coming to any solution to a problem other than suicide.

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