Holding the Lifeline
A Guide to Suicide Prevention
Suicide
Until this point, there is hope for individuals no matter what stage of the suicide spectrum they are in. In Frank's case, the suicide attempt will act in part as a wake-up call for him, helping him to value life more, but it also puts him at much greater risk for another suicide attempt that could end in death the next time.
Example of a Suicide's Impact on a Community*
On a spring day, near the beginning of the planting season, the generally quiet pace of life in a rural Midwest community was unexpectedly disrupted with the suicide of a popular local newscaster. This charismatic young man in his late 20s was a local celebrity, an active volunteer, and role model who worked with numerous community programs serving youth. Joe's suicide devastated the local community which had assumed that the popular "city boy" had adjusted to the slower pace of life in their area.
Parents and other community members working with the young people who knew Joe held hushed conversations among themselves to discuss responses to the grief-stricken teens. Informally, they agreed that it was better not to discuss the matter until a young person asked for help. Some parents expressed the concern that discussing Joe's suicide would only make things worse.
Joe's suicide made state news. One of the local networks carried extensive coverage of the suicide, providing elaborate details about how Joe died and its effect on the community. There was also a feature story on celebrities who had completed suicide that gave simple and generalized answers about why well-known people take their own lives.
Two days after Joe's suicide, three high school students engaged in copycat suicides. At the scene of the triple suicide, police found several empty bottles of hard liquor and an open container of gasoline that the students had inhaled. There were also three separately written suicide notes indicating that these suicides were done in "tribute" to Joe.
A year later, many people in this community were still upset about the deaths by suicide. Parents and other community members learned the hard way that trying to sweep suicide under the rug doesn't work. It became clear that talking about what happened to Joe out in the open was very important and healing for the young people. This community also learned that sensationalizing suicide stories only makes the situation worse. There are no quick and easy answers to what causes a suicide.
*Created for illustrative purposes only, not a depiction of an actual event.
As the above vignette illustrates, one dimension of suicide is known as suicide clusters, suicide contagion, suicide imitation, or copycat suicide. These terms refer to the exposure to suicide or suicidal behaviors within one's family, peer group, community, or even through media reports of suicide. This kind of exposure can result in an increase in suicide and suicidal behaviors, both through direct and indirect contact with a suicide. Teenagers and young adults are the age groups that most often engage in suicide following a suicide. ref
Media reporting about suicide deaths plays a large role in copycat suicides. When headlines or reporting are dramatic, providing lengthy descriptions, and/or details about the method of suicide, vulnerable people exposed to such reports can react by identifying with the victim and taking their own lives. Inadvertently romanticizing or idealizing a person who kills oneself, or portraying the suicide victim as heroic, can have a devastating effect on others.ref Likewise, celebrity deaths by suicide are more likely than non-celebrity deaths to yield imitation. ref
Suicide contagion can be greatly reduced by factual and concise media reports of suicide. When there is not prolonged exposure to reports of suicide, the likelihood of suicide imitation or copying is minimized. Media reports should avoid oversimplification of causes, as well as glorifying the victim. ref
Suicide should never be depicted as an effective way to achieve a personal goal or solve a problem.
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Last Updated: 5/11/06
SAMHSA is an Agency of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
