A Cross-Cultural Investigation of Suicidal Disclosures and Attitudes in Austrian and Turkish University Students

The prevalence of suicidal behavior and the nature of attitudes toward suicide differ in Austria and Turkey. To see if there were differences in disclosure, 351 Turkish and 310 Austrian students answered questions about disclosing suicidal thoughts. More Austrian than Turkish students reported suicidal ideation and believed that suicidal people disclose their plans, but suicidal disclosures were equally common in the two groups. Compared to Austria, suicidal disclosures in Turkey met with more positive social reactions that may facilitate a successful social support process. These findings imply that prevention efforts should reduce the stigma around suicidal disclosures.