How Many People Are Exposed to Suicide? Not Six

Julie Cerel; Margaret M. Brown; Myfanwy Maple; Michael Singleton; Judy van de Venne; Melinda Moore; Chris Flaherty

doi:10.1111/sltb.12450

How Many People Are Exposed to Suicide? Not Six

Julie Cerel, Margaret M. Brown, Myfanwy Maple, Michael Singleton, Judy van de Venne, Melinda Moore, Chris Flaherty

College of Social Work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

181 Scopus citations

Abstract

It has long been stated that six people are left behind following every suicide. Despite a lack of empirical evidence, this has been extensively cited for over 30 years. Using data from a random-digit dial survey, a more accurate number of people exposed to each suicide is calculated. A sample of 1,736 adults included 812 lifetime suicide-exposed respondents who reported age and number of exposures. Each suicide resulted in 135 people exposed (knew the person). Each suicide affects a large circle of people, who may be in need of clinician services or support following exposure.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	529-534
Number of pages	6
Journal	Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior
Volume	49
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/sltb.12450
State	Published - Apr 2019

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This work was in part supported by the Military Suicide Research Consortium (MSRC), an effort supported by the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs under Award Nos. W81XWH-10-2-0178 & W81XWH-10-2-0181. Opinions, interpretations, conclusions, and recommendations are those of the author and are not necessarily endorsed by the MSRC or the Department of Defense.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2018 The American Association of Suicidology

Copyright:
Copyright 2019 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Clinical Psychology
Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
Psychiatry and Mental health

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1111/sltb.12450

Cite this

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How Many People Are Exposed to Suicide? Not Six

Abstract

Bibliographical note

ASJC Scopus subject areas

UN SDGs

Access to Document

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Cite this