Suicide and stigma: a review of the literature and personal reflections.
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.
Sudak
Howard
H
Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19147-1612, USA. hsudak@afsp.org
Maxim
Karen
K
Carpenter
Maryellen
M
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