Szeto, Andrew C. H.Lindsay, Brittany Lee2020-08-272020-08-272020-08-26Lindsay, B. L. (2020). Investigating the Influence of Media Articles on the Stigma of Suicide and other Campus-Related Factors after a Suicide on Campus (Master's thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca.http://hdl.handle.net/1880/112437Objective: This study investigated whether different media articles (i.e., mass-media intervention) from a post-secondary institution (in response to a student suicide) could influence the stigma towards suicide behaviours and suicide death from students and whether certain variables (empathy, interpersonal anxiety, and modern prejudice) mediated this relationship. Other campus-related factors (e.g., opinions on acknowledging a suicide, resources, campus perceptions) were also explored. Method: Undergraduate participants (N=500) read a fictitious scenario about a student suicide on their campus and were randomly assigned to one of four articles: a control article about health that did not mention the suicide or one of three intervention articles that acknowledged the suicide and was knowledge based (psychologist) or also included interpersonal exposure/media contact (a friend of the decedent, or a suicide survivor). Suicide stigma measures, mediators, and other variables of interest were collected. Results: The stigma towards suicide survivors, particularly stereotypes, was significantly less after the three intervention articles compared to the control; no differences were found between the intervention articles. No significant differences were observed regarding stigma towards suicide decedents or campus perceptions. A mediation model was not supported. Most students believed that campuses should acknowledge a suicide and they provided numerous explanations for this. Students were knowledgeable on suicide prevention resources. Conclusions: Mass media interventions (with and without media contact) can be effective in reducing some aspects of suicide stigma. Post-secondary institutions should consider respectfully acknowledging a suicide on their campuses in a similar way, especially since most students are supportive of this.engUniversity of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.stigmasuicidesuicide survivordiscriminationinterpersonal media contactknowledge-based/psychoeducationmass media interventionspostsecondary institutions/studentsprejudicestereotypesMental Healthmaster thesis10.11575/PRISM/38119