What is Working, What is Hopeful....

This publication is now  available on-line. Click Here.

Click here for information on how to obtain a printed copy.

This work represents one part of the work by the author and others who are interested in learning about what communities are doing to prevent suicide and more specifically those efforts that have been successful in reducing suicide and its impact. While this publication focuses on Indigenous communities, through this web-site all communities are welcome to submit stories about the activities that they found worked, or are hopeful.

Through these stories we can increase our collective knowledge. Consider this an Open Source project - all are welcome to contribute in creating something we can all benefit from.

The "Honouring Life" website is now on-line. This website developed through the National Aboriginal Health Organization and funded under the National Aboriginal Youth Suicide Prevention Strategy (First Nations Inuit Health) provides resources for youth and those who work with youth.

Check it out at: www.honouringlife.ca

A primary concern is the role of contagion and cluster effects in the aftermath of a death by suicide. Cluster effects refers to  a number of suicides and/or suicide attempts that occur closer in time and space than would be expected for a given community. Suicide Contagion refers to the tendency of suicidal behaviour to influence additional suicidal behaviour*.

While media through responsible reporting can play a positive role in suicide prevention, there are situations in which stories about suicide can contribute to suicide contagion. It is not the story per se, but a number of characteristics that are found to increase the risk for suicide. These characteristics* include:

• Presenting simplistic explanations for suicide.
• Engaging in repetitive, ongoing or excessive reporting of suicide.
• Providing sensationalistic coverage of suicide.
• Reporting "how to" descriptions of suicide.
• Presenting suicide as a tool for accomplishing certain ends.
• Glorifying suicide or persons who commit suicide.
• Focusing on the suicide completer's positive characteristics.

 *Taken from "The Challenge of Suicide Clusters", SIEC Alert #36, July 1999

The following resources provide information about media and suicide contagion including recommendations on how to reduce contagion effects.

• The Challenge of Suicide Clusters

• Featuring Suicide in the Media

• Help the Media Prevent Copycat Suicides

• Reporting on Suicide: Recommendations for the Media

April 19, 2007 - Complicity

The Great Disconnect - March 23, 2007