Citation

Lindsay BL, Szeto ACH. Arch. Suicide Res. 2022; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2022, International Academy of Suicide Research, Publisher Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/13811118.2022.2121672

PMID

36106828

Abstract

This study investigated whether media articles from a postsecondary institution could influence students' stigma toward suicide after a student dies by suicide. Undergraduate participants (N = 425) read a fictitious scenario about a student suicide and were randomly assigned to a control article (no mention of the suicide) or one of three intervention articles that acknowledged the suicide and included a discussion with a psychologist, a friend of the decedent, or a suicide survivor. The stigma toward suicide survivors, particularly stereotypes, was significantly less after the three intervention articles compared to the control. No differences were found between the intervention articles or regarding the stigma toward suicide decedents. Reduced stigma toward survivors indicates that acknowledging a suicide, when possible, should be considered.

Language: en

Keywords

Mass-media interventions; postsecondary context; stereotypes; stigma reduction; suicide stigma