title: Suicide and stigma: a review of the literature and personal reflections.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The authors aim to educate mental health practitioners and trainees regarding the issues of stigma and suicide and how stigma impacts this diverse population of suicide attempters, completers, their families, friends, therapists, and others both personally and therapeutically.
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors draw upon their own experiences as survivors and review pertinent literature illustrating the history and general impacts of this stigmatization. The authors present suggestions to diminish stigma both for survivors and the general public.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Although there appears to have been some diminution in the stigmatization of the mentally ill over the past few decades, there appears to be less diminution in the stigma associated with suicide and suicide-survivorship.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Mental illness, in general, has become less stigmatized in recent years, but suicide remains nearly as stigmatized as ever.
authors: Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19147-1612, USA. hsudak@afsp.org
authors: Howard
authors: H
authors: Sudak
authors: Karen
authors: K
authors: Maxim
authors: Maryellen
authors: M
authors: Carpenter
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D001601:Bereavement; D005196:Family Therapy; D006801:Humans; D011287:Prejudice; D011613:Psychotherapy; D012657:Self-Help Groups; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology*; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology*; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology