Suicide and Stigma: A Review of the Literature and Personal Reflections

• Published in: Academic psychiatry 2008-03, Vol.32 (2), p.136-142
• Main Authors: Sudak, Howard, Maxim, Karen, Carpenter, Maryellen
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adaptation, Psychological; Allied Health Personnel; Bereavement; Death; Dentistry; Family (Sociological Unit); Family Environment; Family Therapy; Grief; Humans; Literature reviews; Medical Education; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Mental Disorders; Mental Health; Prejudice; Psychiatry; Psychotherapy; Public Opinion; Resistance (Psychology); Self-Help Groups; Social Attitudes; Social Bias; Social Support Groups; Special Article; Spouses; Suicide; Suicide - psychology; Suicide, Attempted - psychology; Survivors - psychology; Vignettes
• ISSN: 1042-9670; 1545-7230
• DOI: 10.1176/appi.ap.32.2.136

Objective The authors aim to educate mental health practitioners and trainees regarding the issues of stigma and suicide and how stigma impacts this diverse population of suicide at tempters, completers, their families, friends, therapists, and others both personally and therapeutically. Methods The authors draw upon their own experiences as survivors and review pertinent literature illustrating the history and general impacts of this stigmatization. The authors present suggestions to diminish stigma both for survivors and the general public. Results Although there appears to have been some diminution in the stigmatization of the mentally ill over the past few decades, there appears to be less diminution in the stigma associated with suicide and suicide-survivorship. Conclusion Mental illness, in general, has become less stigmatized in recent years but suicide remains nearlyas stigmatized as ever.