Patterns of suicide among Mexican Americans and Anglos, 19602–1980

Summary Little is known about suicidal behavior among Mexican Americans, the second largest and most rapidly growing ethnic group in the United States. This paper reports trends in suicide rates for Mexican Americans and Anglos in Bexar County (San Antonio), Texas, over a 20-year period of time. Results show that suicide rates for Mexican Americans of both sexes are substantially lower than those for Anglos from 1960 to 1980. Suicide rates for both ethnic groups increased over time, but rates for Ang los increased more than rates for Mexican Americans. Unique aspects of Mexican American culture are offered to explain the findings.An earlier draft of this paper was presented at the World Congress of Sociology, Mexico City, 20 August 1982. The research was supported by an Institutional Research Grant from The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio.