Discrimination against people with a mental illness can take form in avoidant/hostile behavior and significantly reducing opportunities concerning education, housing, employment, and health care. Additionally, many suicide attempt survivors face discrimination with regards to people distancing/ignoring, mistrust, shaming them.

University of Illinois at Chicago

Suicide stigma, as a whole, has its roots in 3 different social biases:
- Stereotypes 
- Prejudice 
- Discrimination 

Suicide stigma has its origin in Stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination towards those who have a mental illness/attempted suicide

Mayer, L., Rüsch, N., Frey, L. M., Nadorff, M. R., Drapeau, C. W., Sheehan, L., & Oexle, N. (2020). Anticipated suicide stigma, secrecy, and suicidality among suicide attempt survivors. Suicide and Life‐Threatening Behavior, 50(3), 706-713.

Anticipated suicide stigma, secrecy, and suicidality among suicide attempt survivors

Some negative stereotypes about those who have a mental illness is that they are not strong and that their mental illness is a sign of weakness. For those who have attempted suicide, they are often stereotyped as crazy for their behavior, but also selfish, attention-seeking, and sinful (which are NOT common stereotypes for people with a mental illness). 

Negative stereotypes about people who live with a mental illness/have attempted suicide

Often times, prejudice occurs when people agree with negative stereotypes and have an emotional reaction/attitude towards a group of people. Prejudiced statements (i.e., "all people with mental illness are weak. I do not take them seriously," "I am afraid of people who attempted suicide because they are crazy") can also lead to discrimination. 

Learn Before

Related