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Completed Suicides in Colorado: Differences between Hispanics and Non‐Hispanic Whites
Author(s) -
Betz Marian E.,
Krzyzaniak Sara M.,
Hedegaard Holly,
Lowenstein Steven R.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
suicide and life‐threatening behavior
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.544
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 1943-278X
pISSN - 0363-0234
DOI - 10.1111/j.1943-278x.2011.00044.x
Subject(s) - medicine , mental health , odds ratio , confidence interval , psychiatry , mood , demography , suicide prevention , odds , occupational safety and health , public health , non hispanic whites , injury prevention , depression (economics) , poison control , gerontology , ethnic group , medical emergency , logistic regression , mexican americans , nursing , pathology , sociology , economics , macroeconomics , anthropology
All suicides by Hispanics ( n = 434) and non‐Hispanic Whites ( n = 3,370) in Colorado from 2004 to 2008 using the Violent Death Reporting System were examined. Hispanic victims were significantly younger. Adjusting for age and gender, Hispanic victims were less likely to have reported depressed mood [odds ratio (OR) 0.78; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.63–0.97], mental health diagnosis (OR 0.53; 95% CI 0.41–0.7), or current psychiatric treatment (OR 0.47; 95% CI 0.43–0.77). There were no differences in reports of financial, relationship, job, or legal stresses. Hispanic suicides were equally likely to be by overdose, firearm, or hanging, but more likely to be in jail (OR 2.68; 95% CI 1.55–4.65). To prevent suicides, stronger partnerships are needed among public health, medical, mental health, and criminal justice professionals.