UW Medicine study uncovers hidden suicide risks in young Asian Americans

Sad loneliness woman sitting on a bench alone at park.

SEATTLE — A new study published today in JAMA Pediatrics highlights concerning disparities in suicide rates among young Asian Americans, indicating that these rates are not uniformly low across all subpopulations within this demographic. Conducted by researchers at the University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle, the study emphasizes the need for targeted and culturally tailored interventions to address mental health disparities effectively.

Dr. Anthony L. Bui

Despite overall lower suicide rates among Asian Americans compared to their non-Asian counterparts, the study reveals a troubling rise in suicide rates among younger Asian Americans, particularly when examined by ethnic subgroups. Dr. Anthony L. Bui, the lead author of the study and an acting assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Washington, stresses the importance of recognizing these variations.

“The important takeaway of this study is that we don’t lump data about Asian Americans into one large category, because when we do, it hides underlying disparities,” Bui said. “By disaggregating these data, we gain a better understanding of what’s happening in these communities and which interventions could really help.”

The research, which analyzed suicide rates from 2018 to 2021 among youths aged 15-19 and young adults aged 20-24, found significant differences between ethnic subpopulations within the Asian American community. The study examined data from five specific ethnic groups: Chinese, Filipino, Indian, Korean, and Vietnamese, as well as a broader category of “all other” ethnicities, including Bangladeshis, Bhutanese, Burmese, Cambodians, Hmong, Indonesians, Japanese, Laotians, Malaysians, Mongolians, Nepalese, Pakistanis, Sri Lankans, Taiwanese, and Thais.

Among Asian American youths, the study found that the overall suicide rate was 9.17 deaths per 100,000, lower than the 10.77 rate observed in non-Asian American youths. However, this average masks significant variation between different groups. Vietnamese youths had the highest suicide rate at 10.57 per 100,000, followed closely by the “all other” category at 13.37 per 100,000. In contrast, Indian youths had the lowest suicide rate within the Asian American category at 6.91 per 100,000. Chinese, Filipino, and Korean youths had intermediate rates of 7.59, 7.64, and 8.44 per 100,000, respectively.

For young adults, the overall suicide rate among Asian Americans was 14.18 per 100,000, again lower than the 18.32 rate seen among non-Asian Americans. Vietnamese young adults had the highest suicide rate in this group at 17.66 per 100,000, followed by the “all other” category at 16.79 per 100,000. The Chinese young adult group had the lowest rate at 9.24 per 100,000, nearly half the rate observed among Vietnamese young adults.

Dr. Bui emphasized the need for a nuanced approach to addressing mental health issues in these communities. “When we’re designing policies and programs to address this problem, we need to think about which communities to focus on and how to make our mental health interventions appropriate, taking into account things like culture, language, and community resources,” said Bui, who is also an investigator at Seattle Children’s Research Institute.

The study’s findings highlight the importance of avoiding broad generalizations about Asian Americans when assessing mental health needs. 

Related