I previously wrote about suicide contagion in my post, "Is Suicide Contagious." I wanted to revisit the topic, as I believe it is a real concern for those who have lost a loved one to suicide as they often ask themselves if their lives will end in the same manner as their loved ones.
Shortly after the death of actor/comedian, Robin Williams, the NY Times published an article, "The Science Behind Suicide Contagion." In the article, the author ...
Fear After Suicide: Learning How to Be Courageous Again
Fearing the worst became a natural reaction after my dad died by suicide. Shocked by the unexpected, life-altering news of his death, my brain instinctively shifted to a permanent state of high alert. When friends and loved ones don’t answer their phone, I start to panic that something terrible happened. If I don’t receive an e-mail from someone in a timely manner, I immediately wonder if I need to check in on them further. Dismayed by my dad’s ...
Eradicating “I’d Kill Myself” Innuendos
Prior to losing my father to suicide, it was not terribly uncommon for me to dish out the phrase, “I’d kill myself” in conversation (at the thought of sitting through a particularly long meeting) or make the gun-to-head gesture while telling a story about something annoying. Similarly, I didn’t think twice when those around me did the same. That’s because the notion of suicide was so far from my reality that these innuendos felt perfectly ...