Mental health resources and suicide rates: Testing the moderating role of cultural orientation
Faculty Sponsor(s)
Jessica Fossum, Ph.D.
Presentation Type
Event
Project Type
Secondary analysis
Primary Department
Psychology
Description
This study investigated whether cultural orientation moderates the relationship between mental health resources and suicide rates. Using 2016 cross-national data, it tested if the individualism score of a country influenced the association between psychiatrists per capita and suicide rates. Results showed that individualism did not significantly moderate this relationship. However, both the number of psychiatrists and individualism scores independently predicted higher suicide rates. Together, these variables explained 44% of the variance in suicide rates. These findings challenge the assumption that increasing psychiatrists reduces suicide. Suicide prevention efforts should consider cultural and systemic factors influencing mental health service access.
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Additional Rights Information
Copyright held by author(s).
Mental health resources and suicide rates: Testing the moderating role of cultural orientation
This study investigated whether cultural orientation moderates the relationship between mental health resources and suicide rates. Using 2016 cross-national data, it tested if the individualism score of a country influenced the association between psychiatrists per capita and suicide rates. Results showed that individualism did not significantly moderate this relationship. However, both the number of psychiatrists and individualism scores independently predicted higher suicide rates. Together, these variables explained 44% of the variance in suicide rates. These findings challenge the assumption that increasing psychiatrists reduces suicide. Suicide prevention efforts should consider cultural and systemic factors influencing mental health service access.
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