Warning signs for suicide exposure effects in a community

What are signs suicide exposure effects in a community?

When a suspected suicide or a serious suicide attempt occurs in a community, there is the possibility that this exposure may lead to adverse health outcomes for community members including further suicide attempts or suicides. That is, suicidal behaviour may adversely affect others and sometimes influence them to also engage in suicidal behaviour.

After a suicide, this risk is thought to be greatest in the first few months and is especially elevated in the first month. However, the risk of suicide exposure effects in a community may continue to be elevated for some time, including around the one-year anniversary of a suicide. Adolescents and young adults are especially vulnerable to the effects of suicide exposure, and this vulnerability can extend years after the event which impacted them.

Warning signs of suicide exposure effects in the community may include (but not limited to):

An increase in suicide attempts, suicides or other suicidal behaviour for the community of concern than would otherwise be expected over a given time.
Known links between those who died by suicide and those who make suicide attempts (e.g., they belong to same peer or social group, school or alternative education provider, workplace, club or gang).
Similarities between those who have died by suicide and those who have made suicide attempts (e.g., same gender, ethnicity, age, method).
Those who have died by suicide took their lives at the same location (e.g., same bridge, cliff, beach or park) creating a “hotspot”.
Evidence of concerning content in texts between members of the community about the suspected suicides or suicide attempts.
Gatherings of unsupervised young people often at makeshift shrines or graves especially if alcohol or other substance use is involved.
Concerning activity in the community related to suicide (e.g., insufficiently monitored or supported highly emotive public meetings or memorials for the deceased, expressions of suicidal ideation or other suicidal behaviour on social networking sites).
A heightened emotional atmosphere in the community (e.g., people are talking about the deaths at the supermarket, on the streets or other community gatherings).
When the media or social media reporting of a suspected suicide is detailed and sensationalist.

If any of these warning signs are noted, please contact Tō te Rā Postvention Community Support service (www.teaho.org.nz or 0800 448 908)