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

Received August 9, 2006; revised January 15 and February 5, 2007; accepted February 16, 2007. Dr. Sudak is affiliated with the Department of Psychiatry at University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. Dr. Maxim is affiliated with the Department of Nursing at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. Address correspondence to Howard Sudak, M.D., University of Pennsylvania, Psychiatry, 401 S. Second St., Suite 402, Philadelphia, PA 19147-1612; hsudak{at}afsp.org (e-mail).

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 attempters, 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 nearly as stigmatized as ever.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				C. I. Ping Tsao, A. Tummala, and L. W. Roberts Stigma in Mental Health Care Acad Psychiatry, April 1, 2008; 32(2): 70 - 72. [Full Text] [PDF]

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