Comparison of Stigmatization of Suicidal People by Medical Professionals with Stigmatization by the General Population

Stigmatization of suicide (SOS) affects help-seeking for suicidality and impedes successful treatment. This study aimed to identify different types of stigmatization and understand the causes and glorification of suicide by comparing three groups; within each of the following groups, the impact of a...

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Main Authors: Jill Julia Eilers, Erich Kasten, Thomas Schnell
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2021-07-01
Series:Healthcare
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/9/7/896
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author Jill Julia Eilers
Erich Kasten
Thomas Schnell
author_facet Jill Julia Eilers
Erich Kasten
Thomas Schnell
author_sort Jill Julia Eilers
collection DOAJ
description Stigmatization of suicide (SOS) affects help-seeking for suicidality and impedes successful treatment. This study aimed to identify different types of stigmatization and understand the causes and glorification of suicide by comparing three groups; within each of the following groups, the impact of age and gender was explored: (1) practicing medical professional in direct contact with suicidality (psychotherapists, psychiatrists, related medical professions (nurses, etc.)), (2) future medical professionals still in training, (3) and the general population with no professional contact with suicidality. German adults completed an online survey with a total of 742 participants. A MANCOVA was calculated with age and gender being controlled as covariates, due to different distribution. Practicing professionals showed significantly higher levels of SOS than the other groups, while the future professionals showed no differences in SOS from the general population. The understanding of suicide causes was similar across all groups. Men showed higher levels of SOS than women, while women scored higher at understanding of causes and glorification of suicide. Within the individual groups, female professionals in the age group “36–65 years” stigmatized suicide most, while showing the least glorification. The results suggest that tendencies towards SOS are promoted by practical experience with suicidality. Therefore, special training is recommended to reduce SOS.
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spelling doaj.art-6adf6ee59c21460dbcc7604f4f1e9c372023-11-22T03:53:01ZengMDPI AGHealthcare2227-90322021-07-019789610.3390/healthcare9070896Comparison of Stigmatization of Suicidal People by Medical Professionals with Stigmatization by the General PopulationJill Julia Eilers0Erich Kasten1Thomas Schnell2Department of Psychology, Faculty of Human Sciences, Medical School Hamburg, 20457 Hamburg, GermanyDepartment of Psychology, Faculty of Human Sciences, Medical School Hamburg, 20457 Hamburg, GermanyDepartment of Psychology, Faculty of Human Sciences, Medical School Hamburg, 20457 Hamburg, GermanyStigmatization of suicide (SOS) affects help-seeking for suicidality and impedes successful treatment. This study aimed to identify different types of stigmatization and understand the causes and glorification of suicide by comparing three groups; within each of the following groups, the impact of age and gender was explored: (1) practicing medical professional in direct contact with suicidality (psychotherapists, psychiatrists, related medical professions (nurses, etc.)), (2) future medical professionals still in training, (3) and the general population with no professional contact with suicidality. German adults completed an online survey with a total of 742 participants. A MANCOVA was calculated with age and gender being controlled as covariates, due to different distribution. Practicing professionals showed significantly higher levels of SOS than the other groups, while the future professionals showed no differences in SOS from the general population. The understanding of suicide causes was similar across all groups. Men showed higher levels of SOS than women, while women scored higher at understanding of causes and glorification of suicide. Within the individual groups, female professionals in the age group “36–65 years” stigmatized suicide most, while showing the least glorification. The results suggest that tendencies towards SOS are promoted by practical experience with suicidality. Therefore, special training is recommended to reduce SOS.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/9/7/896suicidesuicidalitystigmatizationhealthcare professionals
spellingShingle Jill Julia Eilers
Erich Kasten
Thomas Schnell
Comparison of Stigmatization of Suicidal People by Medical Professionals with Stigmatization by the General Population
Healthcare
suicide
suicidality
stigmatization
healthcare professionals
title Comparison of Stigmatization of Suicidal People by Medical Professionals with Stigmatization by the General Population
title_full Comparison of Stigmatization of Suicidal People by Medical Professionals with Stigmatization by the General Population
title_fullStr Comparison of Stigmatization of Suicidal People by Medical Professionals with Stigmatization by the General Population
title_full_unstemmed Comparison of Stigmatization of Suicidal People by Medical Professionals with Stigmatization by the General Population
title_short Comparison of Stigmatization of Suicidal People by Medical Professionals with Stigmatization by the General Population
title_sort comparison of stigmatization of suicidal people by medical professionals with stigmatization by the general population
topic suicide
suicidality
stigmatization
healthcare professionals
url https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/9/7/896
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