Suicide Prevention Month: Smashing the Stigma

Today marks the last day of Suicide Prevention Month – a month in which we raise awareness, encourage honest and informative conversations, and remember those who have lost their lives from suicide. Though social norms often keep us from talking about suicide, rates rising remind us that it is more important than ever to speak openly and honestly about it.

• In 2023, over 49,000 people died by suicide (1)
• In 2023, suicide was the 11th leading cause of death overall, and the 2nd leading cause of death for individuals between the ages of 10 and 34 (2)
• From 2021 to 2023, 20% of adolescents reported seriously considering suicide (3)
• From 2021 to 2023, 9% of adolescents reported attempting suicide in the last year (3)

What is Stigma?

In simple terms stigma can be defined as “a mark of disgrace”. Because stigma has historically played a major role in the way we view mental health, the challenge to remove stigma is significant, as it can be damaging to an individual’s wellbeing and in the most severe cases, contribute to death by suicide. One 2023 study found that between 50 and 60% of people who experience suicidal ideation or behaviors and 40% of those who died by suicide had disclosed this to someone (4). Additionally, there is a relatively low percentage of individuals who die by suicide that receive specialty care. One statistic found that while 90% of people who die by suicide have received a mental health diagnosis, 80% receive primary health care services but only 25-30% see a psychiatric provider in the year prior to their death (5). This tells us that while primary care services are being utilized, there is a substantial difference in the rates of receiving specialized mental health care. Even though the exact reasons why suicidal intent is often not disclosed and many don’t receive the type of care that they need is not certain, what we know about stigma can help guide efforts to decrease suicide rates by advocating for proper care and encouraging open conversations.

How Did We Smash the Stigma (Metaphorically)?

At Bright Path, we create a space for teens to show up exactly as they are, without stigma or fear of judgement. We walk alongside our patients in navigating the complexities of receiving mental health care and continuing on their journey once they leave our doors. Since this is not a mission we can achieve alone, we invited 15 community partners in mental health, who share the vision of a world without stigma to participate in a “rage room” event, which was intentionally crafted to represent the intense emotions associated with the harm that stigma can inflict on those who are suffering quietly. When the attendees arrived, they were each given a ceramic plate and instructed to write a word or phrase that represents the stigma- or what gets in the way of people receiving the care they deserve. To set the tone for the event, attendees were encouraged to:

“…let yourself pour into it the frustration, the grief, and the fight for better care that’s in your heart right now. Because when you smash it — really smash it — you’re not just breaking something. You’re making space for something better.”

Afterwards, our care partners geared up and got ready to shatter their symbols of stigma!

How Do We Smash the Stigma in Our Lives?

While smashing the stigma is a powerful metaphor which allowed for a uniquely meaningful community event, the real-life practice of diminishing the stigma around receiving mental health care proves to be a lot more complex. Each attendee had valuable insight on what stigma means or is associated with to them, and there were a few themes that became evident from the responses.

1. Shame: First, and closely associated with the term stigma itself, was the theme of shame. This was evident in statements describing what suffering should look like, what counts as difficult or painful “enough” and other messages of feeling inadequate, broken, or blameworthy. While shame is a far-reaching and intensely powerful force, a simple truth about it is that it demands silence. By cultivating spaces and holding conversations to talk about what feels shameful, its impact grows weaker. Some attendees wrote words and phrases such as, “too much”, “crazy”, “cry-baby” and “looking for attention”. These phrases carry the harmful message that a person who is suffering is unworthy of support and is responsible for their own suffering and thus must carry the pain by themselves. To diminish the stigma surrounding mental health, it is imperative that we move the dialogue away from shameful language and towards a more open space for healing.
2. Challenging Stereotypes: To a similar point, the shame associated with stigma often plays into harmful assumptions or stereotypes. For example, some smash-room attendees noted that there are stereotypes associated with what being “sick” or struggling with a mental illness looks like, or how “addicts” never really change. The perpetuation of these harmful stereotypes presents a tremendous barrier to receiving appropriate care and may be influenced by a lack of education about what it means to experience mental health challenges. While challenging these assumptions and replacing them with accurate information can take time, organizations such as the National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI), the CDC, and Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Association (SAMHSA) provide free educational and other support resources for mental health. With this, we can work towards promoting a wider understanding of what struggling with mental health means, and why stereotypes are harmful.
3. Accessibility of Care: Another important consideration in the discussion of stigma around mental health care is its accessibility. While reaching out for help is the first step, receiving affordable care is another significant challenge faced by many individuals facing mental health challenges. High out of pocket costs remain a barrier to those receiving mental health care, especially those in lower socioeconomic status populations. One 2023 study found that about one in five adults living in the United States earning average or lower income chose not to receive mental health care when they needed it due to costs (6). While there are increasing numbers of no-cost resources available, such as crisis lines and support groups, continued care remains a critical need.

As we move into the next month, we remember addressing the stigma and barriers to receiving mental health care are imperative to fostering a mentally well community. In the spirit of Suicide Prevention Month, I encourage you to try your own version of smashing the stigma, whether that be by metaphorically smashing something in a rage room or finding the courage to have difficult conversations in whatever feels authentic to you. In doing so, we set an example and move towards a world where mental health care is the norm and people don’t have to suffer alone.  

Together, we must continue to do what is in our power to “smash” the stigma and show others that they can too.

Sources:

1. CDC. (2025, March 26). Suicide data and statistics. Suicide Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/suicide/facts/data.html
2. Suicide. (n.d.). National Institute of Mental Health. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/suicide
3. CDC. (2025, June 10). Data and statistics on children’s mental health. Children’s Mental Health. https://www.cdc.gov/children-mental-health/data-research/index.html
4. Hallford, D. J., Rusanov, D., Winestone, B., Kaplan, R., Fuller-Tyszkiewicz, M., & Melvin, G. (2023). Disclosure of suicidal ideation and behaviours: A systematic review and meta-analysis of prevalence. Clinical Psychology Review, 101, 102272. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2023.102272
5. Harmer, B., Lee, S., Rizvi, A., & Saadabadi, A. (2025). Suicidal ideation. In StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK565877/
6. Gunja, M. Z., Gumas, E. D., Williams II, R. D., Doty, M. M., Shah, A., & Fields, K. (2023). The cost of not getting care: Income disparities in the affordability of health services across high-income countries — findings from the commonwealth fund 2023 international health policy survey. https://doi.org/10.26099/JBE9-C870