Facts and Myths About Suicide: a Study of Jewish and Arab Students in Israel

This research investigates the knowledge & myths about suicide among a random sample of 450 undergraduates in Israel & examaines whether they are affected by ethnic origin, gender, & religiosity. The level of Israeli students’ knowledge about suicide is generally good. There are significant differences, however, between the Jewish & Arab students in knowledge about basic facts of suicide in Israel. The Arab students tend more to believe that suicide rates are higher in Israel & even more so among people of Asian-African origian & minorities. There are also significant differences between the groups with respect to their belief in suicide myths. The influence of the different cultural characteristics of lifestyle & the social control systems among Jews & Arabs in Israel on perceptions of suicide are discussed. (59 refs.)