Suicide Stigma Scale: Development and initial psychometric validation

Stigmatizing beliefs related to suicide are common and associated with worsened clinical outcomes, including increases in suicidal ideation. By modifying the Depression Stigma Scale, we develop and present the initial psychometric properties of the Suicide Stigma Scale. In contrast to an existing measure of suicide stigma, the Suicide Stigma Scale contains items with specific stigmatizing beliefs about suicide. Participants (N = 1,258) completed the pilot measure, background demographic questions, and several measures of convergent/divergent constructs. The sample was split randomly for exploratory factor analysis (25%; n = 314) and confirmatory factor analysis (75%; n = 944). Measurement invariance was also examined across (binary) gender. Acceptable unidimensional model fit and good reliability were obtained, as was partial scalar measurement invariance. Scores from the Suicide Stigma Scale correlated highly with an existing measure of suicide stigma and negatively correlated with experiences of mental health concerns. The Suicide Stigma Scale allows researchers and clinicians to assess specific stigmatized beliefs in both general and clinical groups that may prove a useful starting point for interventions to reduce stigma.