ABSTRACT
The concept of cultural identity is crucial for the focus of this chapter. Cultural identity is an individual’s perception of their position in varying dimensions of life such as race, sexual orientation, ethnicity, gender, religious belief, and age (Tatum, 1997). Additional examples of cultural identity include subgroups such as military veterans, college students, and people with disabilities. Due to the multidimensional nature of one’s identity, one’s core sense of self and belief system may be influenced by numerous factors at once. With regard to suicidality, aspects of cultural identity could include symptomatic presentation, and risk and protective factors. These various elements can be impacted in different pathways dependent on the interaction between the cultural identity of the individual and unique stressors existing in their life.
