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A Look at Culture and Stigma of Suicide: Textual Analysis of Community Theatre Performances

Author

Listed:
  • Sarah Keller

    (Department of Communication & Theatre, Montana State University Billings, Billings, MT 59102, USA)

  • Vanessa McNeill

    (Department of Psychology, Montana State University Billings, Billings, MT 59102, USA)

  • Joy Honea

    (Department of Social Sciences & Cultural Studies, Montana State University Billings, Billings, MT 59102, USA)

  • Lani Paulson Miller

    (Walden University, Minneapolis, MN 55401, USA)

Abstract

Stigma against suicidal ideation and help-seeking is a significant barrier to prevention. Little detail is provided on what types of stigma interfere with help-seeking, how stigma is expressed, and how to reduce it. Five groups of two ethnically diverse community theatre programs were formed to analyze differences in Eastern Montana Caucasian and Native American adolescents and young adults’ experiences with stigma about mental illness and mental health treatment that affect help-seeking for suicidal thoughts and experiences. Over a ten-week period, a grassroots theatre project was used to recruit members from the same population as the audience to write and perform a play on suicide and depression ( n = 33; 10 males, 23 females; 12 Native American, 21 Caucasian, ages 14–24). Using textual analysis, the community- and campus-based performance scripts were coded for themes related to stigma. Both ethnic groups reported that stigma is a barrier to expressing emotional vulnerability, seeking help, and acknowledging mental illness. We found that Caucasians’ experiences were more individually oriented and Native Americans’ experiences were more collectively oriented. Understanding the cultural bases of experiences with stigma related to mental health treatment for suicide is necessary to create educational programs to reduce stigma for diverse groups of adolescents and young adults.

Suggested Citation

  • Sarah Keller & Vanessa McNeill & Joy Honea & Lani Paulson Miller, 2019. "A Look at Culture and Stigma of Suicide: Textual Analysis of Community Theatre Performances," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(3), pages 1-20, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:3:p:352-:d:201056
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Liliana Hidalgo-Padilla & Ana L. Vilela-Estrada & Mauricio Toyama & Sumiko Flores & Daniela Ramirez-Meneses & Mariana Steffen & Paul Heritage & Catherine Fung & Stefan Priebe & Francisco Diez-Canseco, 2022. "Using Arts-Based Methodologies to Understand Adolescent and Youth Manifestations, Representations, and Potential Causes of Depression and Anxiety in Low-Income Urban Settings in Peru," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(23), pages 1-18, November.
    2. Chiara Davico & Alessandra Rossi Ghiglione & Elena Lonardelli & Francesca Di Franco & Federica Ricci & Daniele Marcotulli & Federica Graziano & Tatiana Begotti & Federico Amianto & Emanuela Calandri &, 2022. "Performing Arts in Suicide Prevention Strategies: A Scoping Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(22), pages 1-22, November.
    3. Sarah Keller & Vanessa McNeill & Tan Tran, 2021. "The Perceived Stigma Reduction Expressed by Young Adults in Response to Suicide Prevention Videos," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(12), pages 1-22, June.

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