Relationship between suicidal behavior, stigma and knowledge about suicide: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Introduction: Suicide is a complex phenomenon that represents a public health problem. There are groups that are at risk for suicide, but stigmatization and lack of knowledge about the topic can interfere with the identification and treatment. Objective: To investigate the potential relationship between suicidal behavior, stigma and knowledge about suicide. Method: The 29 participants were selected in two cities in the interior of Minas Gerais in the second half of 2019. They were divided into three groups according to the presence of sui-cidal behavior. Four instruments were applied: semi-structured interview with sociodemographic questionnaire, Self-Reporting Questionnaire, Stigma of Suicide Scale–Short Form, Literacy of Suicide Scale–Short Form. The comparison of subgroups of interest was conducted using the Kruskall-Wallis test. The group studied in this research was compared to more representative samples of the general population. Results: Most participants had some diagnosis of mental disorder (82.8%). The average score obtained in the stigma and knowledge questionnaires was similar between the subgroups (p = 0.945 and p = 0.847, respectively). However, the group in this study exhibited higher levels of stigma and glorification of suicide compared to the normative sample. Conclusion: The study showed similar scores between the questionnaires on stigma, isolation, normalization and knowledge about suicide. The stigmatization of suicide is a harmful social phenomenon, therefore under-standing it is important for the prevention and treatment of suicidal behavior within the scope of public health.