Self-stigma to psychological help-seeking among university students in the health sciences: the role of suicide literacy, suicide stigma, and other predictors

Abstract

Introduction: One of the important factors affecting seeking psychological help for suicide is self-stigma. The aim of this study was to examine suicide literacy, stigma of suicide and certain variables as predictors of self-stigma of seeking psychological help among university students. Methods: This research was designed as an analytical cross-sectional study. The study sample consisted of 1365 students studying health science between October and December 2023. A Participant Information Form, the Literacy of Suicide, Stigma of Suicide and Self-Stigma of Seeking Help scales were used as data collection tools. Data analysis was conducted using the Student t-test, Mann–Whitney U test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson correlation analysis and multiple linear regression analysis. Results: The mean score of students' self-stigma of seeking help was 22.71 ± 6.64. Being female, preferring a mental health professional for help, life satisfaction, signs and treatment and prevention subscale of suicide literacy and stigma of suicide were predictors of self-stigma of seeking help. These variables explained 15.5% of the variance in self-stigma of seeking help. Conclusions: The effect of participants' suicide literacy, suicide stigma and other factors of the participants was limited in explaining self-stigmatization in seeking psychological help. Increasing suicide literacy and reducing suicide stigma may strengthen participants' help-seeking behaviors.