Suicide and the Communication of Rage: A Cross-Cultural Case Study

Abstract

The author reports the study of 36 attempted suicides in Guyana, an emerging nation where suicide attempts are a major public health problem. The incidence of suicide is lower among persons of African descent, which reflects the fact that there are a number of culturally sanctioned techniques for acting out hostile affects in this group. The East Indian, without a culturally accepted means for the discharge of aggression, can communicate his rage by directing it against himself.