The Bereaved and the Stigma of Suicide

The relationship between self-reported stigma and potentially stigmatizing events was investigated by interviewing ninety people bereaved by a suicide of a relative or close friend. Twenty-eight felt stigmatized by the suicide (S respondents) and sixty-two did not (N respondents). Fourteen potentially stigmatizing events were examined. S respondents were significantly more likely than were N respondents to have encountered gossip, to have had a negative reaction to the conduct of officials, and to have moved within one month after the suicide. S Respondents had encountered significantly more events than had N respondents, suggesting a possible cumulative effect. Three case examples of stigma are presented.