Original Article

How Many People Are Exposed to Suicide? Not Six

Corresponding Author

Julie Cerel PhD

[email protected]

orcid.org/0000-0002-4534-5526

College of Social Work, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA

Address correspondence to Julie Cerel, University of Kentucky, 627 Patterson Office Tower, Lexington, KY 40506; E-mail: [email protected]Search for more papers by this author

Margaret M. Brown DrPH,

Margaret M. Brown DrPH

University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA

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Myfanwy Maple PhD,

Myfanwy Maple PhD

School of Health, University of New England, Armidale, NSW, Australia

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Michael Singleton PhD,

Michael Singleton PhD

Kentucky Injury Prevention Research Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA

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Judy van de Venne PhD,

Judy van de Venne PhD

Department of Psychology, Eastern Kentucky University, Richmond, KY, USA

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Melinda Moore PhD,

Melinda Moore PhD

Department of Psychology, Eastern Kentucky University, Richmond, KY, USA

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Chris Flaherty PhD,

Chris Flaherty PhD

College of Social Work, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA

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Julie Cerel PhD,

Corresponding Author

Julie Cerel PhD

[email protected]

orcid.org/0000-0002-4534-5526

College of Social Work, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA

Address correspondence to Julie Cerel, University of Kentucky, 627 Patterson Office Tower, Lexington, KY 40506; E-mail: [email protected]Search for more papers by this author

Margaret M. Brown DrPH,

Margaret M. Brown DrPH

University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA

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Myfanwy Maple PhD,

Myfanwy Maple PhD

School of Health, University of New England, Armidale, NSW, Australia

Search for more papers by this author

Michael Singleton PhD,

Michael Singleton PhD

Kentucky Injury Prevention Research Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA

Search for more papers by this author

Judy van de Venne PhD,

Judy van de Venne PhD

Department of Psychology, Eastern Kentucky University, Richmond, KY, USA

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Melinda Moore PhD,

Melinda Moore PhD

Department of Psychology, Eastern Kentucky University, Richmond, KY, USA

Search for more papers by this author

Chris Flaherty PhD,

Chris Flaherty PhD

College of Social Work, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA

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First published: 07 March 2018

https://doi.org/10.1111/sltb.12450

Citations: 306

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.

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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.

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Volume49, Issue2

April 2019

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