Suicide stigma in a cross-cultural context: Comparison between Mexican and Mexican American communities.

Suicide and suicide-related stigma are serious public health issues affecting Latine communities and often serve as a barrier to help-seeking Mexicans and Mexican Americans experiencing mental health concerns. Despite this, there are still gaps in our understanding of how suicide stigma specifically impacts Latines of Mexican heritage. While Mexicans and Mexican Americans share many familial, cultural, and religious values, their exposure to different societal norms may shape distinct perceptions of suicidal ideation and mental health. To better understand suicide-related stigma in these communities, we conducted a community-based survey with 248 Mexican Americans in Houston and 203 participants in Mexico City using a randomized vignette methodology that varied by the age and gender of individuals experiencing suicidal ideation. Multivariate analysis of variance and multiple regression models were employed to examine three domains of suicide-related stigma: Personal Social Distance, Community Stigma, and Future Potential Stigma. In the Mexican sample, stigma was influenced by education, self-stigma, and openness to seeking professional help. In the United States sample, stigma was associated with generational status, acculturation, and familiarity with mental health issues. These findings underscore the importance of considering sociodemographic factors in understanding suicide-related stigma and highlight the need for culturally tailored interventions to address the unique predictors of stigma in each community.