How to recognise suicide-related stigma
Learn about how to recognise stigma, because it is the first step towards addressing it.
How to recognise suicide-related stigma
Recognising stigma is the first step towards addressing it, and can help to create more supportive environments, where people feel safe to talk about suicidal thoughts and seek help.
Subtle forms of stigma occur when people dismiss or downplay suicidal distress.
Examples of this are:
Suggesting that someone has no reason to feel suicidal, for example, people saying that nothing “bad” has happened to them, they shouldn’t be feeling that way
Suggesting that suicidal thoughts are a sign of weakness rather than a sign of emotional pain
Many people are uncomfortable discussing suicide due to the shame and taboo associated with it, and this can lead to avoidance. Avoidance reinforces the idea that suicide should not be spoken about, and that it is taboo and shameful.
Examples of avoidance include:
Changing the subject when suicide is mentioned
Excluding discussions about suicide from community, college, or workplace wellbeing initiatives
Avoiding or withdrawing from someone who has disclosed suicidal thoughts, survived a suicide attempt or been bereaved by suicide
People avoid saying “suicide” at all, using terms like “passed away suddenly” instead
Discrimination within the workplace can be a consequence of structural stigma.
For example, someone with experiences of suicidal thoughts or attempts:
May be viewed as “unreliable” or “incapable” at work
May not be trusted with jobs that require more responsibility
May not be put forward for promotions, or in extreme cases may lose their jobs
Structural stigma is also present within healthcare settings and in the media.
Examples of this include:
Lack of training for healthcare staff on how best to support people presenting with suicidal thoughts or a suicide attempt
Newspapers reporting suicide using stigmatising headlines or without context, where they may be judgemental or equate the death to a single factor
Being dismissed by healthcare professionals, not taken seriously, or receiving inadequate care are all signs of stigma within support roles and services.
Examples include:
Being told other people are more deserving of help because they have not “chosen” to harm themselves
People hospitalised following a suicide attempt being ignored by healthcare professionals
Healthcare professionals showing discomfort, judgment, or impatience when someone talks about suicide
Assuming that those affected should “get over it” or “move on”
Treating people differently after learning they’ve had suicidal thoughts or experiences
Self-stigma can look like:
People blaming themselves or feeling shame following a suicide attempt or bereavement
People isolating themselves to avoid stigmatising experiences
People labelling themselves as “immoral”, “selfish”, and/or “weak”
People not seeking help in order to avoid stigma, or because they do not believe they are deserving of help