Young people who know someone with a recent suicide attempt have an elevated risk of a suicide attempt themselves, according to a
study in
JAMA Network Open.
Why It’s Relevant
Adolescents and young adults are sensitive to what peers do, so assessing their recent exposure to suicide attempts may help identify those at risk who may not be detected through symptom-based screening alone.
By the Numbers
- Researchers analyzed data from 2,098 young people ages 13 to 22 who completed baseline and follow-up surveys over 24 months; none of the survey respondents had a history of suicide attempts at baseline.
- Youth who were exposed to a suicide attempt within their social network in the previous year—whether via direct observation, first-hand disclosure, or second-hand communication—were 2.78 times more likely to report a subsequent suicide attempt of their own over the follow-up period.
- Depressive symptoms increased in exposed youth over follow-up as well, but the increased risk of suicide attempt remained strong (2.43 times as likely) even after adjusting for depression.
- Exposure to a recent suicide in a social network was not associated with new suicidal ideation.
The Other Side
The study relied on self-reported details about sensitive outcomes such as suicidal ideation and attempts, which can result in biased answers. The surveys also did not assess characteristics of a respondent’s peer environment that might influence both exposure to suicidal behavior and subsequent suicide risk, such as peer conflicts or relationship quality.
Takeaway Message
“The findings suggest that social network exposure may have been more closely linked to suicidal behavior escalation than to the emergence of suicidal thoughts during adolescence and young adulthood,” the researchers wrote. “The results support conceptualization of suicide risk as a socially embedded process and highlight network exposure as a potentially useful component of youth suicide risk assessment and prevention strategies.”
Related Information
Source
Kimberly J. Mitchell, et al. Suicide risk after social network exposure to suicide attempts in adolescents and young adults. JAMA Network Open. Published online August 24, 2026. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2026.30409
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