Suicide can be “contagious”, especially among young people, a new study has found.
Canadian researchers found teenagers who had a friend who had committed suicide were five times more likely to have suicidal thoughts themselves.
The effect — known as the “suicide contagion” — was most pronounced in 12 and 13-year-olds and the increased risk lasts for two or more years.
“We found that exposure to suicide predicts suicidality,” study leader Dr Ian Colman, Canada Research Chair in Mental Health Epidemiology and Assistant Professor of the University of Ottawa said.
“This was true for all age groups, although exposure to suicide increased the risk most dramatically in the youngest age group, when baseline suicidality was relatively low.”
Researchers studied data from 22,064 Canadian children aged 12 to 17.
They found that the suicide of a schoolmate dramatically increased the risk of suicide among remaining teens, regardless of whether they knew the deceased personally.
In the most at-risk group, 12 to 13-year-olds, 15 per cent had suicidal thoughts and 7.5 per cent actually attempted suicide after a schoolmate’s suicide. Of those with no exposure to suicide, 3 per cent had suicidal thoughts and 1.7 per cent attempted suicide.
The “suicide contagion” effect appeared to lessen as kids got older, but 14 to 15-year-olds exposed to suicide were still nearly three times more likely to have suicidal thoughts and 16 to 17-year-olds were twice as likely.
The researchers say the study suggests suicide prevention counselling should be offered to all students at schools where someone has committed suicide, and not just close friends of the victim.
“Perhaps any exposure to a peer’s suicide is relevant, regardless of the proximity to the decedent,” Dr Colman said.
“It may be best for postvention strategies to include all students rather than target close friends.”
The findings were published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.
If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts, visit Lifeline Australia.
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