Violence and Invisibility: A Collective Case Study on Suicide Among Emberá Indigenous Youth in the Colombian Pacific

Pedro E. Rodríguez^1*Ayda Pantoja^1*Alejandra Sapene^2,3Castulo Cisneros⁴

• ¹University of the Valley, Cali, Colombia
• ²Andrés Bello Catholic University, Caracas, Venezuela
• ³Alejandra Sapene, Santiago de Cali, Colombia
• ⁴Fundación Universitaria San Martín, Bogotá, Cundinamarca, Colombia

Ethnic minorities are exposed to greater risks of mental health problems than other population groups. These risks intensify during specific developmental periods, depending on gender, psychosocial risk factors, as well as the racism, stigmatization, and social exclusion to which they are subjected, among other elements. In the case of the Emberá Indigenous population in Colombia's Pacific region, a significant number of suicides among young people have occurred in recent years. This situation has been described as a "suicide epidemic." The general aim of this study is to deepen the understanding of suicide among Emberá youth through a collective case study drawing on both primary and secondary sources. Specifically, the study sought to analyze the characteristics of suicide, the institutional and professional mechanisms and strategies involved in addressing it, and the processes of institutional racism and social exclusion at play. Based on interviews and a documentary review of 76 sources, the objective is to provide a contextualized understanding of the high incidence of suicide among Emberá youth in the Chocó region and to contribute to the development of future educational, community, and activist actions. The findings suggest that suicidal behavior manifests with particular characteristics in this group, requiring an approach that transcends nominal cultural sensitivity and instead engages with the community's lived realities and structural conditions. Significant challenges are also evident in current mechanisms and strategies of intervention, especially the need for improved coordination and the design of actions and interventions grounded in an intersectional perspective, capable of responding to multi-problematic contexts. The results further highlight the impact of racism and exclusion on the emotional experience of this group, not only through institutional racism but also through processes of self-denigration and internalized racism. This study proposes strengthening the notions of institutional racism and psychosocial exclusion as useful analytical tools for addressing forms of violence and invisibility in cases of suicide among Emberá youth. It also offers some reflections on future pathways and recommendations for action, emphasizing the importance of promoting the active participation of young people in the design, implementation, and monitoring of protective strategies against suicide risk.