NCJ Number
123984
Date Published
1989
Length
17 pages
Annotation
This chapter reviews reports of suicide epidemics or clusters to identify their characteristics and risk factors; evidence for suicide contagion is assessed, and several recent clusters are examined; a prevention strategy for a school is discussed.
Abstract
This chapter defines a suicide "cluster" as "three or more suicides that occur within a defined space and time." A review of case series in the literature and data from several suicide clusters studied by the author concludes that time-space suicide clusters occur among youth and adults and are not a new phenomenon. Direct or indirect exposure to other suicides may induce imitative behavior among vulnerable people. Younger people and those with mental illness may be more susceptible to epidemic suicide. Sociocultural meanings attached to suicide may facilitate suicide clusters. Identification with a suicide victim fosters imitative behavior and is more likely among persons with similar life experiences. Imitative suicide is more likely when the model is highly regarded and the potential victim views the outcome of the model's behavior as rewarding. The description of a school-oriented plan to prevent cluster suicides involves the cooperation of school personnel, mental health professionals, community leaders, parents, and student representatives. 37 references.