[Suicide among migrant populations and native Dutch in The Netherlands]

Abstract

Objective: To determine the differences in suicide mortality between native Dutch and migrant groups in the Netherlands from different countries and regions of origin, taking the differences in age structure into account.

Design: Retrospective.

Methods: Data from the statistics on causes of death from the Dutch Central Bureau of Statistics, Statistics Netherlands (CBS), based on the causes of death given in the certificates from the doctor or forensic pathologist, were coupled to the reports of death from the Municipal Population Registration (GBA). In this way, the country of origin of the deceased could be determined. The confidentiality of these data is regulated by law. For the period 1996-2004, all 13,737 persons were selected who had committed suicide (International classification of diseases (ICD)-10-codes X60-X84). The country of origin was determined on the basis of data on the country of birth of the deceased and his or her parents. Someone is a 'migrant' ('foreign') according to the definition of the CBS if at least one of the parents was born outside the Netherlands.

Results: There were substantial differences in suicide mortality between migrant groups in the Netherlands. These differences reflected, to some extent, suicide mortality patterns in the countries and regions of origin. On the whole, migrants originating from western countries showed suicide mortality rates that were well above the average rate for native Dutch. High suicide rates were seen in male migrants from southern and eastern Europe. On the other hand, suicide mortality was significantly lower among Turks and Moroccans than among native Dutch. Only young adult males of non-western origin, with the exception of Moroccans, were much more likely to commit suicide than native Dutch.

Conclusion: Although much attention has recently been paid to the elevated rates of attempted suicide among young women from Surinam, their suicide mortality was increased less than that of men from Surinam up to middle age. These increased suicide rates may reflect high levels of mental illness, identity problems, disappointments related to the process of migration, high expectations with respect to education, work and income, and the responsibilities for a family.