2 - Dispelling Myths Surrounding Suicide

Summary

For many complex health issues throughout history, misinformed views tend to promulgate, leading to a multitude of negative effects, deeply stigmatizing the experiences where these health issues are involved. Without science, untruths and stigma continue to thrive. In the past, before a body of scientific research led to an understanding of what drives suicide risk, many myths prevailed about suicide. These myths not only shaped stigmatized and erroneous views of suicidal behavior but resulted in harshly punitive ideas and judgment of people who experience suicidal thoughts, who attempt, or who ultimately lose their lives to suicide. Now that a multi-disciplinary group of scientific fields are shedding tremendous light on the actual drivers of suicide risk, cultural views are changing, bringing an understanding that while complex, suicide is a health issue.