Ammerman Brooke A, Piccirillo Marilyn L, O'Loughlin Caitlin M, Carter Sarah P, Matarazzo Bridget, May Alexis M
University of Notre Dame, Department of Psychology, Notre Dame, IN, 46556, USA.
VA Puget Sound Healthcare System, Seattle, WA 98108, USA.
Psychiatry Res. 2022 Mar;309:114408. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2022.114408. Epub 2022 Jan 20.
Widespread attempts to implement suicide prevention efforts may be hindered by stigma regarding suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STBs). Despite extensive literature linking general mental health stigma to numerous negative outcomes (i.e., reduced help-seeking), limited research has extended findings to STB-specific stigma. Thus, the present study aimed to examine the association between three types of STB stigma (public, self, and anticipated) and self-disclosure, a specific form of help-seeking for some individuals, among civilians and a population at heightened suicide risk, U.S. veterans. Participants (n = 500) reported a lifetime history of suicidal ideation (n = 253 identified as a U.S. veteran; n = 132 reported being enrolled in Veteran Health Administration [VHA] care) who completed self-report measures about their STB experiences, including stigma and self-disclosure. Results highlighted a significant association between greater self-stigma, as well as greater anticipated stigma, and a reduced likelihood of STB disclosure, among veterans but not civilians. No significant associations as a result of VHA care status were found. Together, findings suggest that individuals' concerns related to STBs and STB disclosure may be grounded in past experiences in the military, and thus highlight the need for prevention efforts that protect against negative consequences related to STB disclosure.
对自杀想法和行为（STB）的污名化可能会阻碍广泛开展的自杀预防工作。尽管有大量文献将一般心理健康污名与众多负面结果（即寻求帮助的减少）联系起来，但将研究结果扩展到特定于STB的污名化的研究却很有限。因此，本研究旨在考察三种类型的STB污名（公众污名、自我污名和预期污名）与自我表露（对一些人来说是一种特定形式的寻求帮助行为）之间的关联，研究对象包括平民以及自杀风险较高的人群——美国退伍军人。参与者（n = 500）报告有自杀意念的终生经历（n = 253被确定为美国退伍军人；n = 132报告参加了退伍军人健康管理局[VHA]的护理），他们完成了关于其STB经历的自我报告测量，包括污名化和自我表露。结果突出显示，在退伍军人而非平民中，更大的自我污名以及更大的预期污名与STB表露可能性降低之间存在显著关联。未发现因VHA护理状态而产生的显著关联。总之，研究结果表明，个体对STB和STB表露的担忧可能源于过去的军事经历，因此凸显了开展预防工作以防止与STB表露相关的负面后果的必要性。
