"Suicide Contagion"

[hurts2b]

Some people say that suicide is contagious, that being exposed to it makes you more likely to kill yourself too. This is often given as an anti-suicide argument. Killing yourself may cause others to kill themselves.

I don't necessarily agree, but I'm curious about your perspectives on this.

 

[RinneOfAragon]

I think contagion can be a thing. There's some areas where there are clusters. I don't think that's a reason to stop me now. I did worry about my younger family members but the suffering I'm going through is just too great. I probably could give a more thoughtful answer but I'm a bit all over the place tonight.

 

[Lamentice]

Everyone is responsible for their own choices. All my life I have been told I am solely my own responsibility, no one else is responsible for me; likewise I am not responsible for other people and their choices.

No one has ever come to help me, it's my responsibility to sort through and handle all my own shit, and if I fail that's my own shit too, but I am supposed to bear the burden of other people's lives despite the fact they would never--have never--done the same for me? Right.
Hypocritical, double standard, bullshit.

 

[DeathfulEnd]

I believe suicide is definitely contagious. In my experience at least. A member of my family committed suicide then another one followed then another and if its my turn is never far from my thoughts.

 

[coolcow1289]

It's very contagious. It's an "idea virus". Someone does it, and then other miserable people who never considered it, are then forced to reckon with it as an option. But you prevent that with media training and being careful how you talk about it.

 

[Passenger4224]

I've seen some ppl on this forum who are suicidal because a loved one CTB'd. But some of them were already depressed to begin with. I'm not really sure what I think.