Problem of Korea

Why Are Hmong Teens Often Suicidal

My term is based on the article A Father 's Favored Son / Hue Vue as written by Anne Dudley Ellis of The Fresno Bee . The original publication date for this article is August 12 , 2002 . The article basically deals with the issues surrounding the life of the Hmong ethnic group since moving to the USA from Vietnam after the US-Vietnam war . The article concentrates on the struggle of te Hmong families to blend 2 very different cultures in the upbringing of their children

It is common

knowledge that there is a high rate of successful suicide and suicidal attempts in the teen age Hmong community . The main reason being given for these alarming rates are often a mix of clashing traditions , civilizations , and beliefs . Often times , these children are born of parents who spent years in a refugee camp in Thailand after escaping the war and who have no idea of how to fit into the new country and culture that they now live in . The parents tend to have a comfort zone . That is why they have this almost manic need to continue to live in the old ways and traditions . This becomes a bone of contention between the parent and the child because of the fact that the children do not move around in a society that recognizes the importance , nor follows the traditional Vietnamese beliefs

It is because of the insistence of the traditional parents that the children continue the old ways as if they were still living in Vietnam that causes the split within the families and the anxiety and stress that the children experience while growing up . How can a sixteen-year old , for example , be expected to carry on a family tradition he does not even understand ? There is a breakdown in communication because the parents fail to see that there is simply nothing that ties the child to the old ways of living in Laos . As parents , they must make the extra effort in to live in the ways of their New World and allow for flexibility in their children if they wish the children to keep even a semblance of their traditions alive

There are various views presented within the article which point out why the Hmong teens often prefer to kill themselves rather than give in to their parents demands . Valerie Forward , a Fresno psychologist said that "There is much research that shows people who stand in the middle of two cultures are really at risk of depression and anxiety

Most Hmong kids live their lives in 2 very different worlds . At home most of these children are expected to speak in Hmong and follow the traditions and rules set by their parents . Yet , the minute they step out of the house , they are bombarded with the American culture . The more fun , hip , and common culture that is easier to follow since everyone else is doing it . Parents are usually not interested in changing...