Stigma and Suicide Warning Signs

Abstract

The current study explored the relationship between stigma and suicide warning signs using a case vignette methodology. Three comparable vignettes were used varying only the essential warning signs, including heart attack, suicidality without specific mention of suicidal thinking, and suicidality with specific mention of suicidal thoughts and associated intent to die. After reading the vignette, participants responded to questions gauging urgency of response, along with their appraisal of the situation across six domains including: seriousness, time (how quickly should they respond), comfort 1 (how comfortable they were with the situation in general), sureness (how sure they were in their response), comfort 2 (how comfortable they were in implementing their response), and hopefulness (how hopeful they were that their response would be helpful). Consistent with study hypotheses, results indicated that participants were significantly less comfortable, less sure, and less hopeful when responding to a suicidal crisis when compared to a heart attack. In addition, participants were significantly less likely to access emergency services for a seriously suicidal individual in comparison to someone suffering a heart attack, instead choosing to talk with family and friends first. The potential moderating effects of family and individual history of psychiatric illness and treatment, along with current individual psychological symptoms, were also explored and discussed, with no significant impact uncovered. The importance of more targeted efforts to train individuals to not just recognize suicide warning signs, but on how to specifically respond, is emphasized.

Re-development of mental health first aid guidelines for suicidal ideation and behaviour: a Delphi study

“…As well as being prime sources of emotional support, they are often in the best position to notice and act on warning signs of suicide in a loved one. However, it is common for members of the public to be unsure of what the warning signs for suicide are, or what to do if they are worried that someone might be suicidal [ 8 , 9 ]. It is therefore important that guidelines that contain the most current and relevant helping recommendations are available to provide guidance to the general public in assisting someone who is suicidal.…”

Clinical Characteristics of the Suicide Attempters Who Refused to Participate in a Suicide Prevention Case Management Program

“…Suicide is one of the significant cause of death in the world ( 1 ). An estimated 29.1 persons per 100,000 population die from suicide in South Korea, which is the highest among the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries (Korean National Statistical Office, 2012).…”

Estigma social no comportamento suicida: reflexões bioéticas

“…Such findings point to the idea that researching situations of imminent risk of death, associated with controversial issues, such as the stigmatization of victims, constituted a task difficult to execute, the reason for which there are few publications in the field. In addition, such studies are extremely necessary, as much for comprehension of the problem as for the planning and implementation of effective prevention measures [17][18][19] .…”