Understanding stigma and suicidality among gay men living with HIV: A photovoice project
Gay men living with HIV (GMHIV) are at relatively high risk for suicide. To inform tailored suicide prevention interventions, we conducted a photovoice study with 22 GMHIV with a history of suicidality. Our study findings revealed three discrete but connected themes characterizing suicidality among...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2022-12-01
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| Series: | SSM: Qualitative Research in Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667321522000749 |
| _version_ | 1828116209200005120 |
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| author | Olivier Ferlatte Ingrid Handlovsky Damien Ridge Tara Chanady Rod Knight John L. Oliffe |
| author_facet | Olivier Ferlatte Ingrid Handlovsky Damien Ridge Tara Chanady Rod Knight John L. Oliffe |
| author_sort | Olivier Ferlatte |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Gay men living with HIV (GMHIV) are at relatively high risk for suicide. To inform tailored suicide prevention interventions, we conducted a photovoice study with 22 GMHIV with a history of suicidality. Our study findings revealed three discrete but connected themes characterizing suicidality among GMHIV: first, HIV stigma featured prominently in participants' narratives who described accumulating experiences of prejudice that triggered their hopelessness. Second, many participants perceived their HIV as a personal failure and felt shamed and blamed, heightening men's suicidality. Third, to avoid disgrace, men withdrew from social interactions, resulting in isolation. However, the subsequent dearth of social interaction weighed heavily, as men admitted longing for social, sexual and romantic connections. All themes contributed in complex ways to participants' experiences of suicidality. The findings affirm the need for tailored suicide prevention efforts focused on promoting social connectedness and public health efforts to de-stigmatize HIV and mental illness. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T12:53:20Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e352aae8fce443f1be4168330e3118a8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2667-3215 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T12:53:20Z |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | SSM: Qualitative Research in Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-e352aae8fce443f1be4168330e3118a82022-12-22T04:23:09ZengElsevierSSM: Qualitative Research in Health2667-32152022-12-012100112Understanding stigma and suicidality among gay men living with HIV: A photovoice projectOlivier Ferlatte0Ingrid Handlovsky1Damien Ridge2Tara Chanady3Rod Knight4John L. Oliffe5École de Santé Publique de l’Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada; Centre de Recherche en Santé Publique, Université de Montréal et CIUSSS du Centre-Sud-de-l’Île-de-Montréal, Montreal, Canada; Corresponding author. Department of Social and Preventative Medicine, School of Public health, University of Montreal, C.P. 6128, succursale Centre-Ville, Montreal, Quebec, H3J 3J7, Canada.School of Nursing, University of Victoria, Victoria, CanadaUniversity of Westminster, London, United KingdomÉcole de Santé Publique de l’Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada; Centre de Recherche en Santé Publique, Université de Montréal et CIUSSS du Centre-Sud-de-l’Île-de-Montréal, Montreal, CanadaBritish Columbia Centre on Substance Use, Vancouver, Canada; Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, CanadaSchool of Nursing, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada; Department of Nursing, University of Melbourne, Victoria, AustraliaGay men living with HIV (GMHIV) are at relatively high risk for suicide. To inform tailored suicide prevention interventions, we conducted a photovoice study with 22 GMHIV with a history of suicidality. Our study findings revealed three discrete but connected themes characterizing suicidality among GMHIV: first, HIV stigma featured prominently in participants' narratives who described accumulating experiences of prejudice that triggered their hopelessness. Second, many participants perceived their HIV as a personal failure and felt shamed and blamed, heightening men's suicidality. Third, to avoid disgrace, men withdrew from social interactions, resulting in isolation. However, the subsequent dearth of social interaction weighed heavily, as men admitted longing for social, sexual and romantic connections. All themes contributed in complex ways to participants' experiences of suicidality. The findings affirm the need for tailored suicide prevention efforts focused on promoting social connectedness and public health efforts to de-stigmatize HIV and mental illness.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667321522000749SuicideHIV/AIDSHIV stigmaMSMGay and bisexual men |
| spellingShingle | Olivier Ferlatte Ingrid Handlovsky Damien Ridge Tara Chanady Rod Knight John L. Oliffe Understanding stigma and suicidality among gay men living with HIV: A photovoice project SSM: Qualitative Research in Health Suicide HIV/AIDS HIV stigma MSM Gay and bisexual men |
| title | Understanding stigma and suicidality among gay men living with HIV: A photovoice project |
| title_full | Understanding stigma and suicidality among gay men living with HIV: A photovoice project |
| title_fullStr | Understanding stigma and suicidality among gay men living with HIV: A photovoice project |
| title_full_unstemmed | Understanding stigma and suicidality among gay men living with HIV: A photovoice project |
| title_short | Understanding stigma and suicidality among gay men living with HIV: A photovoice project |
| title_sort | understanding stigma and suicidality among gay men living with hiv a photovoice project |
| topic | Suicide HIV/AIDS HIV stigma MSM Gay and bisexual men |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667321522000749 |
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