Suicide among Bhutanese Refugees in United States

What are the risk factors that may be linked to suicidal ideation and/or attempted suicide among Bhutanese refugees to the United States from 2008 to the present?

Since last week, our Nepali speaking interpreters have been busy in helping Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) find an answer to the above question. Since 2008 approximately 35,000 Bhutanese refugees have been resettled in the United State. 16 suicide cases in 10 states have been reported to the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR). As our interpreters were undergoing two days training session with the CDC staff, another suicide had been reported to ORR. Considering the pattern in which suicide cases are increasing among the newly resettled Bhutanese refugee population, CDC is conducting “Epi-aid” study in collaboration with Office of Refugee Resettlement and Refugee Health Technical Assistance Center at the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.

A random sample of Bhutanese refugees from four states – Georgia, Arizona, New York, and Texas were selected from which a total of 579 Bhutanese refugees, age 18 and older will be interviewed using a set of pre-designed questionnaire which is about 90 minutes long. After two days of intense training on research ethics, informed consent, questionnaire, addressing difficult situations, distressed respondent guidelines, and role play sessions, our Nepali speaking interpreters are ready to assist in face-to-face interviews with Bhutanese refugees. The study findings will help better understand the underlying causes and associated risk factors for suicide in the Bhutanese community, provide evidence-based guidance on prevention of suicide and reducing emotional distress among Bhutanese refugees, and raise awareness of suicide risk factors and mental health resources to Bhutanese refugees in the United States.

There is definitely the need for linguistically competent and culturally appropriate mental health programs in Arizona to address the issues of Bhutanese refugees and also other individuals who have Limited English Proficiency. With the use of our professionally trained interpreters, Bridging Cultures is in a unique position to help bridge the gap between mental health patients and medical professionals/facilities. Our interpreters, some of who are former refugees, found Bhutanese Suicide Prevention study with CDC very meaningful. We are very positive about the outcomes of this study and enthusiastic about the changes it will follow. Please check back with us for more progress on this topic.

Kamana Khadka, Program Manager, Bridging Cultures