Suicide, mental, and physical health condition stigma in medical students

Rachel E M Cryer; Alison L Calear; Philip J Batterham; Sunaina R Patel

doi:10.1080/07481187.2018.1539049

Suicide, mental, and physical health condition stigma in medical students

Death Stud. 2020;44(4):230-236. doi: 10.1080/07481187.2018.1539049. Epub 2018 Nov 19.

Authors

Rachel E M Cryer¹, Alison L Calear², Philip J Batterham², Sunaina R Patel¹

Affiliations

¹ Medical School, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia.
² Centre for Mental Health Research, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia.

PMID: 30451586
DOI: 10.1080/07481187.2018.1539049

Abstract

The current study aimed to compare the personal stigma of suicide with the personal stigma for other mental and physical health conditions. 116 Australian medical students (58% women), aged between 20 and 41 years (M = 25.02, SD = 3.80), completed an online survey. Suicide was more highly stigmatized than most of the other mental and physical health conditions in both attitudes toward suicide and willingness to disclose. The current study highlights the need for further medical student education in suicide, as ongoing negative attitudes could negatively affect patient care and disclosure.

Keywords: Suicide; disclosure; medical education; stigma.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adult
Attitude of Health Personnel
Female
Humans
Male
Mental Disorders / psychology*
Social Stigma*
Stereotyping*
Students, Medical / psychology*
Suicide / psychology*
Surveys and Questionnaires
Young Adult