The Influence of Death Exposure on Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors

The present study investigated the relationship between exposure to both suicidal and non-suicidal deaths and current suicidal ideation and suicide attempt history among urban college students. Three hundred and ninety-six (n = 396) undergraduate students attending an urban university completed a series of questionnaires assessing their exposure to death (including suicide), suicide attempt history, and current level of suicidal ideation. Exposure to suicide and non-suicidal death were not related to current suicidal ideation; however, students who had made a suicide attempt were more likely to have been exposed to a death by suicide or acute disease. The findings of this study suggest that exposure to death by suicide or acute disease increased the likelihood a student made a past suicide attempt.