Exposure to Suicide: Incidence & Association With Suicidal Ideation & Behavior: United States, 1994

From a national random telephone survey of U.S. adults, the authors estimated the 12-month incidence of exposure to suicide & its association with suicidal ideation, planning, & behavior. Of 5238 respondents, 342 reported knowing a suicide decedent from the previous year. Univariate analysis showed persons reporting such exposure were significantly more likely to describe suicidal ideation & behavior than those unexposed; multivariate analysis showed no association. Implications for future research are discussed. (37 refs)