Cultural Considerations in Suicide Risk Assessment with Immigrant and Refugee Populations in Canada

A suicide risk assessment (SRA) may predict and, in turn, prevent suicide; however, its efficacy is contingent upon assumptions that are built in to psychometrics and other tools with which risk is measured. In Canada, where multiculturalism is a celebrated part of national identity, specific populations including immigrants and refugees may be underserved by standard SRA protocols. Indeed, immigrant populations from minority cultures may express suicidality differently from non-immigrants in Canada and other Western countries. Here, we review the impact of culture on suicide and self-harm among immigrant populations within the historical and contemporary contexts of the Canadian healthcare system. We offer actionable recommendations such as the translation of SRA tools, standardization on relevant populations, and the inclusion of cultural factors in testing that can improve current SRA protocols, and discuss the implications of increased cultural awareness among clinicians.