Contagion Theory and Youth Suicide (IN: Youth Suicide: The Critical Issues, San Francisco: 1984)

Dr. Davidson applies the infectious disease model to the contagion theory of youth suicide. She states that as in infectious disease, suicide is multidetermined; knowledge of this helps to avoid looking for “the” answer for suicide. Dr. Davidson cites historical incidences of mass suicide as evidence that contagion is continuing phenomenon. She suggests that it may be better understood by applying epidemiologic methods to determine risk indicators, demographics, & other salient characteristics.