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Assessing the Effects of Peer Suicide on Youth Suicide
Author(s) -
Feigelman William,
Gorman Bernard S.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
suicide and life‐threatening behavior
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.544
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 1943-278X
pISSN - 0363-0234
DOI - 10.1521/suli.2008.38.2.181
Subject(s) - depression (economics) , adolescent suicide , suicide prevention , psychology , suicide attempt , adolescent health , injury prevention , poison control , clinical psychology , occupational safety and health , psychiatry , human factors and ergonomics , longitudinal study , medicine , medical emergency , nursing , pathology , macroeconomics , economics
Using data from all waves of the National Longitudinal Survey of Adolescent Health, we investigated the short‐term and long‐term impact of an adolescent friend's suicide on an adolescent's depression and suicidality. Results suggest that a friend's suicide is associated with heightened suicide thoughts and attempts and greater depression during the first year after loss. Six years later, analyses show concurrent behaviors most relevant to explain suicidality fluctuations. Findings suggest the importance of therapeutic availability, especially during the first year, for those losing a friend to suicide.