The Correlation Between Normative Beliefs About Suicide and Attitudes Toward Suicide-Related Compulsory Psychiatric...

Background/Aims: This study examines how normative beliefs (human rights-based and rationality-based) about suicide aligned with their support for compulsory psychiatric treatment. Method: A national telephone survey of 1,087 Taiwanese participants was conducted to assess opinions on suicide rights, suicide rationality, and psychiatric intervention. Multinominal logistic regression analyzed the relationship between beliefs about suicide and attitudes toward compulsory intervention. Results: Between 68.9% and 83.7% of the sample supported involuntary treatments, with 37.6% acknowledging the right to suicide and 24.7% considering suicide rational. Belief in this right did not correlate with support for compulsory treatment. However, those viewing suicide as rational were less likely to support compulsory psychiatric referral for those with, or without, mental illness (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 0.39, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.27-0.57, p ≤.001; aOR = 0.29, 95% CI 0.16-0.53, p ≤.001) and compulsory psychiatric admission (aOR = 0.36, 95% CI 0.25-0.54, p ≤.001). Limitation: The cross-sectional design limits causal inferences. Relevant factors such as economic status, mental health stigma, and family suicide history were not measured. Conclusion: Compulsory psychiatric treatment was widely supported in Taiwan. Belief in the right to suicide had little impact, but individuals who viewed suicide as rational were more likely to oppose the intervention. This highlights the need to address cultural narratives for mental health policymaking.