In the past week, Manhattan's Chinatown witnessed two separate suicides occurring in immigrant families facing economic pressure.  Margaret Chen, councilwoman for District 1, gathered several community and health organizations to discuss preventing suicides and other mental health issues in a public seminar.  Representatives from the health organizations emphasized that suicide is not only a personal problem, but also a community problem.

Chen urged the residents to care and look after each other.  Even a simple hello may be able to save a life at the last minute, she said.  She emphasized that no matter what problem one faces, it is important to let others know, and that there is no shame in talking about it.  The community also needs to reach out in different ways to people who are struggling.  

According to Indochina Sino-American Community Center Director Hsieh Cheng, the center has helped many people with depression, which, he stated, is not just a personal problem, but a community problem. The director of mental health at the Charles Wang Community Health Center indicated that statistics reveal 75 percent of the people who committed suicide visited a family doctor within year of the suicide, and 45 percent visited a family doctor within the month prior to taking their lives. Adding, this pointed to the important role family doctors play in identifying those with suicidal tendencies, who exhibit many warning signs, such as a lack of desire to take care of their appearance, a lack of hope, unwillingness to engage in conversation. The support of the family is extremely important, he stated.  

A representative from the New York Asian Women's Center said that nine out of 10 Asian women seeking help have thought about suicide, and three out of 10 families have children who have thought about suicide.  She recollected a case where a girl drew a picture about three ways to commit suicide, trying to determine which way to end her life.  Fortunately, many kids talk about their feelings, so tragedies can be avoided.

The health professionals urged community members to encourage relatives and friends who need help to come forward and seek medical attention.