New American Media: Chinese American Seniors At High Risk for Suicide HT @SFDirewolf

A study of Chinese American seniors in the San Francisco Bay Area found they consider suicide at a higher rate of other ethnic groups. reports Sing Tao Daily. In a story highlighted in New American Media, the report found that 15 percent of Chinese American seniors had considered suicide at least once. It’s the first study of its kind of Chinese American seniors.

Dr. Joyce Chu, Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychology at Palo Alto University, found older Chinese Americans attempted to suppress feelings of depression and did not share those feelings with family and friends. Neglect by family members, language and cultural barriers and feelings of guilt were often blamed.

To counter this, Chu recommends that seniors be more open about their feelings and to seek out treatment from doctors.