Stigma as a barrier to suicide prevention efforts in Iran
Suicide and suicide attempt affect a considerable part of the general population, and in spite of their prevalence, the stigma associated with suicide remains an unsolved problem surrounding this important public health problem, especially in lower-income countries such as Iran. Evidence shows that...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-01-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Public Health |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2022.1026451/full |
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| author | Maryam Masoomi Seyedehmahboobeh Hosseinikolbadi Fahimeh Saeed Vandad Sharifi Amir Hossein Jalali Nadoushan Sheikh Shoib Sheikh Shoib Sheikh Shoib |
| author_facet | Maryam Masoomi Seyedehmahboobeh Hosseinikolbadi Fahimeh Saeed Vandad Sharifi Amir Hossein Jalali Nadoushan Sheikh Shoib Sheikh Shoib Sheikh Shoib |
| author_sort | Maryam Masoomi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Suicide and suicide attempt affect a considerable part of the general population, and in spite of their prevalence, the stigma associated with suicide remains an unsolved problem surrounding this important public health problem, especially in lower-income countries such as Iran. Evidence shows that help-seeking from formal mental health services for suicidal people is low in countries like Iran. Previous studies on Iranian survivors of suicide attempts have shown that these people experience fear of stigma due to labels such as loss of faith in God, having forms of severe mental illnesses (“madness”), and being involved in unaccepted sexual relationships. The associated stigma prevents them from seeking appropriate health and social services. Although both self-stigma and public stigma contribute to an unwillingness to seek mental health care and suicide prevention efforts in Iran, public stigma may be of greater consequence, significantly impeding an individual's likelihood of accessing care for their suicidal thoughts or attempts. In such circumstances, many people with suicidal thoughts miss out on social and formal support programs offered by social and healthcare providers. In this perspective article, focusing on the public stigma regarding suicide in Iranian society, we address the challenges and barriers to seeking suicide prevention efforts in Iran and discuss culturally appropriate strategies to improve the current situation. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T23:56:33Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-403e34fa0b7c4b9a8a52fd270cddcde2 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-2565 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T23:56:33Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-403e34fa0b7c4b9a8a52fd270cddcde22023-01-10T12:31:11ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652023-01-011010.3389/fpubh.2022.10264511026451Stigma as a barrier to suicide prevention efforts in IranMaryam Masoomi0Seyedehmahboobeh Hosseinikolbadi1Fahimeh Saeed2Vandad Sharifi3Amir Hossein Jalali Nadoushan4Sheikh Shoib5Sheikh Shoib6Sheikh Shoib7Department of Psychiatry, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IranSuicide Prevention Committee, Iranian Psychiatric Association, Tehran, IranPsychosis Research Center, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, IranDepartment of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IranMental Health Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, Psychosocial Health Research Institute, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IranDepartment of Psychiatry, Jawahar Lal Nehru Memorial Hospital, Srinagar, IndiaSharda University, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, IndiaMind Wellness Center, Srinagar, IndiaSuicide and suicide attempt affect a considerable part of the general population, and in spite of their prevalence, the stigma associated with suicide remains an unsolved problem surrounding this important public health problem, especially in lower-income countries such as Iran. Evidence shows that help-seeking from formal mental health services for suicidal people is low in countries like Iran. Previous studies on Iranian survivors of suicide attempts have shown that these people experience fear of stigma due to labels such as loss of faith in God, having forms of severe mental illnesses (“madness”), and being involved in unaccepted sexual relationships. The associated stigma prevents them from seeking appropriate health and social services. Although both self-stigma and public stigma contribute to an unwillingness to seek mental health care and suicide prevention efforts in Iran, public stigma may be of greater consequence, significantly impeding an individual's likelihood of accessing care for their suicidal thoughts or attempts. In such circumstances, many people with suicidal thoughts miss out on social and formal support programs offered by social and healthcare providers. In this perspective article, focusing on the public stigma regarding suicide in Iranian society, we address the challenges and barriers to seeking suicide prevention efforts in Iran and discuss culturally appropriate strategies to improve the current situation.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2022.1026451/fullstigmasuicide preventionsuicide behaviormental healthIran |
| spellingShingle | Maryam Masoomi Seyedehmahboobeh Hosseinikolbadi Fahimeh Saeed Vandad Sharifi Amir Hossein Jalali Nadoushan Sheikh Shoib Sheikh Shoib Sheikh Shoib Stigma as a barrier to suicide prevention efforts in Iran Frontiers in Public Health stigma suicide prevention suicide behavior mental health Iran |
| title | Stigma as a barrier to suicide prevention efforts in Iran |
| title_full | Stigma as a barrier to suicide prevention efforts in Iran |
| title_fullStr | Stigma as a barrier to suicide prevention efforts in Iran |
| title_full_unstemmed | Stigma as a barrier to suicide prevention efforts in Iran |
| title_short | Stigma as a barrier to suicide prevention efforts in Iran |
| title_sort | stigma as a barrier to suicide prevention efforts in iran |
| topic | stigma suicide prevention suicide behavior mental health Iran |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2022.1026451/full |
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