Abstract:
Background: In Sri Lanka, university undergraduate students face significant mental health
challenges, including stress, anxiety, and depression. Improving mental health understanding can
mitigate stigma, yet research on suicide literacy and stigma remains limited.
Objectives: To investigate suicide literacy and stigma among undergraduates in public
universities within the Western Province of Sri Lanka, examining their association and identifying
socio-demographic influences
Methods: The study employed a descriptive, correlational, cross-sectional design, collecting data
from 389 participants aged 18 to 28 years across six public universities: University of Sri
Jayewardenepura (31%), University of Kelaniya (19%), University of Colombo (11%), University
of Moratuwa (13%), Open University of Sri Lanka (22%), and University of Visual and
Performing Arts (3%). Data collection occurred between September and October 2023 using
convenient sampling via Google Forms. The Literacy of Suicide Scale-Short Form (LOSS-SF)
and the Stigma of Suicide Scale-Short Form (SOSS-SF) were utilized after validating them for the
Sri Lankan context. SPSS version 26.0 was used for analysis, applying non-parametric tests due to
non-normal data distributions.
Results: Results showed a moderate level of suicide literacy mean±SD (5.67±2.07) with gaps in
knowledge about causes, signs, and risk factors. Stigma levels were low (2.53±0.67). Students
showed higher approval for the isolation/depression subscale (3.48±0.85) and lower approval for
the glorification/normalization subscale (2.17±0.17) of SOSS-SF. A significant weak negative
correlation was observed between suicide literacy and stigma (p<0.01, r=-0.197). Health service
related students had higher literacy (p<0.05) and lower stigma (p<0.05) compared to non-health
service students. Exposure to suicide or attempts among friends and relatives exhibited reduced
stigma (p<0.05) and higher approval of the glorification/normalization subscale (p<0.05).
Conclusions: These findings underscore the need for psycho-educational interventions to enhance
suicide literacy and destigmatize suicide, particularly among non-health service sector students.
Future initiatives should focus on helping individuals identify suicide risk factors and signs, and
research employing larger sample sizes to facilitate comprehensive analysis.
