Thesis (M.S. in Operations Logistics)--Naval Postgraduate School, Sept. 2004. / Thesis Advisor(s): David H. Olwell. Includes bibliographical references (p. 69). Also available online.

Despite over a century's worth of study, areal variations in suicide rate remain largely unexplained. In order to better understand these regional differences, this analysis aggregates county-level National Center for Health Statistics Multiple Cause of Death data with data from the US Census, the Association of Statisticians of American Religious Bodies, and the Penn State Northeast Regional Center for Rural Development to test the three leading conceptualizations of social integration (i.e. demographic, compositional, ecological) against US suicide rates. Results of negative binomial regression models indicate that an ecological measure, social capital, is substantially associated with suicide rate, while demographic and compositional measures do not appear to be significantly associated with suicide rate, robust of controls, speaking to the role of social ties in preventing suicide. These findings highlight both the changing nature of social integration and the role that this plays in suicide prevention.

This study was designed to investigate and describe suicides in Delaware County over a ten-year period, 1963-1972, and to compare specific factors in the Delaware County suicides with Indiana suicides (1963-1972) and United States suicides (1963-1968). Indiana suicides were also compared with United States suicides for the years 1963-1968.Variables used in the study were as follows: (1) age, (2) race, (3) sex, (4) socioeconomic level, (5) method of self-destruction, (6) marital status, (7) month of death, (8) day of injury, (9) time of day, and (10) place of injury. Hypotheses generated from the variables have been analyzed through the use of the goodness of fit Chi-square test. Other data were summarized in terms of rates, frequencies, and percentages.1) AGESuicide in Delaware County is most prevalent in those 45-64, while Indiana seems to have a relatively high suicide rate in the 65+ age group.2) RACEFrom 1963 to 1972, only two non-white suicides were recorded in Delaware County. Unlike larger cities, Delaware County does not have an increasing non-white suicide rate. The white suicide distribution in Delaware County closely corresponds with the United States white suicide distribution, while Indiana has a somewhat lower white suicide distribution.3) SEXThe ratio of male suicides to female suicides in Delaware County and Indiana is very similar to the United States male female suicide ratio of 3 to 1.4) SOCIOECONOMIC LEVELIn Delaware County the greatest number of suicides was recorded by the middle class, while those in the upper social stratum committed the fewest suicides.5) METHOD OF SELF-DESTRUCTIONThe majority of suicide victims in Delaware County used firearms. Men favored the more violent means such as firearms and hanging, while most of the female suicide victims used poisons. 6) MARITAL STATUSFrom the results of the Delaware County study it would seem that marriage does not offer the protection against suicide that it once did. Over 60 percent of Delaware County suicides were committed by married individuals.7) MONTH OF DEATHSuicide peaks have been recorded for the time periods May June and October-November in Delaware County during the years 1963-1972.8) DAY OF INJURYMost of the Delaware County suicides have occurred during the first three days of the week: Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday. The fewest suicides occurred on Friday and Saturday.9) TIME OF DAYFrom 1963 to 1972, more suicides occurred during the hours of noon to 6:00 P.M. However, at least one suicide occurred in each of the 24 hours of the day during this ten-year period. 10) PLACE OF INJURYThe home of the suicide victim is where most suicides occur. In Delaware County, 76 percent of the suicides occurred at the home of the victim.After analyzing the collected data, this investigator found Delaware County suicide distributions to be very similar to those Indiana and the United States for the years 1963-1972. Delaware County seems to typify trends of suicide occurring in the United States.Further studies may be warranted in the areas of female and elderly suicides. Investigations pertaining to the use of firearms as a method of self-destruction also are needed.

The focus of this study was to ascertain what, if any, were the commonalities and differences between and among bully-suicide victims between the ages of nine and eighteen. The focus of this study additionally was to determine to what extent, if any, was there a relationship between parent advocacy, media coverage, and/or a social event related to bully-suicide and the implementation or amending of state anti-bullying legislation. Bully-suicide victims (N = 92) from throughout the United States whose information was available through Internet search engines were included in this study. Further, state legislators (N = 50) who sponsored their states most recent anti-bullying legislation also were included. State legislators who provided direct responses to the request to participate answered four interview questions regarding their sponsorship of anti-bullying legislation. Commonalities between bully-suicide victims were analyzed to determine if particular demographics had an equal likelihood of occurrence. Legislator responses to the interview questions were analyzed for themes using a phenomenological research method. Through an examination of the research results and related literature, the researcher determined that there was a statistically significant deviation from equal likelihood of groups for bully-suicide victims who were male, high school-aged, or targeted due to appearance or sexual orientation. Further, bully-suicide victims were most frequently subjected to verbal bullying. Evaluation of the data also unveiled that parent advocacy, media coverage and social events related to bully-suicide were related to state legislator sponsorship of anti-bullying legislation

This study examined psychological, social, and cultural factors that can affect suicide risk among Mong/Hmong youth between the ages of 18 and 25. Emerging evidence suggests that Mong/Hmong youth are at an increased risk for suicide (Huang, Lee, & Arganza, 2004; Jesilow & Xiong, 2007). Additionally, initial findings and theories have suggested potential associations between Mong/Hmong youth suicide risk and intergenerational family conflict, ethnic identity, acculturation, depression, and spirituality. The seriousness of suicide risk among Mong/Hmong youth in this country has been overlooked for decades; therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine these associations with the hope that the findings would be beneficial in future efforts to reduce suicide risk among Mong/Hmong youth. This research was a cross-sectional exploratory study that used a purposive sampling method in addition to snowball sampling. The sample consisted of 165 Mong/Hmong youth between the ages of 18 and 25 from three California academic institutions. Results indicated that of 165 respondents, 59% (n=98) have had passing thoughts of suicide. There was a correlation between ethnic identity, intergenerational family conflict, depression, and spiritual beliefs. Furthermore, ethnic identity and intergenerational family conflict were significant predictors of depression. Lastly, depression and having a belief in Mong/Hmong traditional spiritual and healing practices were predictors of suicide risk among the sampled population. Two open-ended protective factor questions were explored to encourage participants to reflect on their resilience to suicide by sharing how they responded to thoughts of ending their life and what helped them to overcome those thoughts. Five themes were identified as protective factors: (1) having the cognitive ability to understand how death affects loved ones; (2) optimism and having a positive orientation toward the future; (3) connectedness with family, friends, and community; (4) having a sense of self-worth; and (5) a social life. Implications for social work practice and policy include the development, expansion and delivery of culturally appropriate mental health treatment services for young adults. This entails the incorporation of traditional Mong/Hmong mental health healing practices into western mental health treatment, ongoing clinical research to better understand the mental health needs of the Mong/Hmong young adult population, and educating and empowering the Mong/Hmong community to access the mental health system, thereby reducing the stigma associated with mental health and increasing access to treatment.