Violence and invisibility

A collective case study on suicide among Emberá Indigenous youth in the Colombian Pacific

Bibliographic Data

ID22167302
AuthorsP Rodriguez (0009-0005-0172-7564, Prague College of Psychosocial Studies, corresponding author), Pedro E Rodríguez, Ayda Pantoja-Santander (Prague College of Psychosocial Studies, corresponding author), Alejandra Sapene (Instituto de Estudios Avanzados), Cástulo Cisneros (Saint Martin University)
Year2025
Volume10
Publication date2025-10-24
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueFrontiers in Education (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2504-284X • E-ISSN: 2504-284X
PublisherFrontiers Media SA (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3389/feduc.2025.1603754
OpenAlexW4415494700
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited22

Ethnic minorities are exposed to greater risks of mental health problems than other groups, intensified during specific developmental periods by gender, psychosocial factors, racism, stigmatization, and social exclusion. In Colombia’s Pacific region, the Emberá Indigenous population has experienced a significant number of youth suicides in recent years, described as a “suicide epidemic.” This study aimed to deepen the understanding of suicide among Emberá youth by analyzing its characteristics, the institutional and professional strategies addressing it, and the processes of institutional racism and social exclusion at play. A collective case study approach was applied, drawing on primary and secondary sources, including interviews and a documentary review of 76 materials, to provide a contextualized understanding of suicide incidence in the Chocó region and to inform future educational, community, and activist actions. Findings indicate that suicidal behavior in this group has distinctive characteristics requiring approaches that go beyond nominal cultural sensitivity, engaging directly with lived realities and structural conditions. Current strategies reveal significant weaknesses, particularly in coordination and in adopting intersectional perspectives to address multi-problematic contexts. Results also highlight the impact of racism and exclusion on the emotional experiences of Emberá youth, expressed through both institutional discrimination and internalized racism. The study concludes by proposing the strengthening of institutional racism and psychosocial exclusion as analytical tools for addressing violence and invisibility in suicide cases, while emphasizing future pathways for action, particularly the active participation of young people in the design, implementation, and monitoring of protective strategies against suicide risk

Indigenous · Invisibility · Mental health · Psychosocial · Racism · Social exclusion · Structural violence · Suicide prevention · Political and Social Dynamics in Chile and Latin America · Resilience and Mental Health · Suicide and Self-Harm Studies

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Open DOIOpen Access