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Identifying and responding to suicide clusters and contagion

Keith Hawton, Karen Lascelles, Anne Stewart, Ann John Orcid Logo, Jane Mathieson, Camilla Haw, Kate Saunders

Swansea University Author: Ann John Orcid Logo

Abstract

This document is for people with responsibility for suicide prevention in local authorities and their partner agencies.Suicide clusters understandably cause great concern and may lead to hasty responses. It is important that plans for such occurrences are prepared in advance, to ensure a measured an...

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Published: Public Health England 2015
Online Access: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/459303/Identifying_and_responding_to_suicide_clusters_and_contagion.pdf
URI: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa23339
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fullrecord <?xml version="1.0"?><rfc1807><datestamp>2016-11-26T22:44:18.4999434</datestamp><bib-version>v2</bib-version><id>23339</id><entry>2015-09-17</entry><title>Identifying and responding to suicide clusters and contagion</title><swanseaauthors><author><sid>ed8a9c37bd7b7235b762d941ef18ee55</sid><ORCID>0000-0002-5657-6995</ORCID><firstname>Ann</firstname><surname>John</surname><name>Ann John</name><active>true</active><ethesisStudent>false</ethesisStudent></author></swanseaauthors><date>2015-09-17</date><deptcode>HDAT</deptcode><abstract>This document is for people with responsibility for suicide prevention in local authorities and their partner agencies.Suicide clusters understandably cause great concern and may lead to hasty responses. It is important that plans for such occurrences are prepared in advance, to ensure a measured and effective response. Authorities need to remain vigilant for the sorts of suicidal behaviour that might lead to contagion, and put strategies in place to forestall this.This has been developed as a contribution to the National Suicide Prevention Strategy for England. It should be read alongside the guidance on developing local suicide action plans. (www.gov.uk/government/publications/suicide-prevention-developing-a-local- action-plan)The document includes: the meaning of the term &#x2018;suicide clusters&#x2019;, their identification, suggestions for who may be at risk of suicidal acts due to the influence of other people&#x2019;s suicidal behaviour, the mechanisms involved, and the effects of suicide (including suicide clusters) on other individuals.The steps that need to be taken at local level to prepare for a suicide cluster are described. This necessitates the development of a community action plan (CAP), including suicide surveillance group (SSG) to review local occurrence of suicides and self-harm, together with a suicide response team (SRT) to deliver the plan. If all this is already in place, you may wish to move on to page 22, &#x2018;Identification of a possible suicide cluster.&#x2019;It is important to balance rapidity of response with careful thinking, which is why a series of checklists are included at the back of this report, to aid analysis. The need for close collaboration between children&#x2019;s safeguarding agencies and the SRT is highlighted.Identifying possible suicide clusters can be difficult. Early indicators are described, together with the need to carefully establish the facts and avoid premature and possibly unhelpful responses.This document suggests responses to possible suicide clusters, especially preventing unhelpful media reporting, identification of individuals and groups who may be particularly vulnerable and practical interventions to reduce the risk of a spread of suicidal behaviour. It also covers help for those directly affected by suicidIn a group vulnerable to imitation it is crucial to take prevention measures after an initial suicide. Particular attention is paid to addressing suicides and their potential spread in mental health services and schools.In this age of instant information sharing it is possible for a cluster to be geographically dispersed. Local groups will need to alert other local authorities if this looks possible. The issue of when and how to wind down a response to a suicide cluster is also outlined, with emphasis on the fact that localities which have had clusters may be at heightened risk of further clusters.Finally, best practice is provided on evaluation of responses to a cluster and using the experience to improve further suicide prevention measures.</abstract><type>Other</type><journal/><publisher>Public Health England</publisher><keywords/><publishedDay>31</publishedDay><publishedMonth>12</publishedMonth><publishedYear>2015</publishedYear><publishedDate>2015-12-31</publishedDate><doi/><url>https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/459303/Identifying_and_responding_to_suicide_clusters_and_contagion.pdf</url><notes></notes><college>COLLEGE NANME</college><department>Health Data Science</department><CollegeCode>COLLEGE CODE</CollegeCode><DepartmentCode>HDAT</DepartmentCode><institution>Swansea University</institution><apcterm/><lastEdited>2016-11-26T22:44:18.4999434</lastEdited><Created>2015-09-17T16:13:51.8635146</Created><path><level id="1">Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences</level><level id="2">Swansea University Medical School - Medicine</level></path><authors><author><firstname>Keith</firstname><surname>Hawton</surname><order>1</order></author><author><firstname>Karen</firstname><surname>Lascelles</surname><order>2</order></author><author><firstname>Anne</firstname><surname>Stewart</surname><order>3</order></author><author><firstname>Ann</firstname><surname>John</surname><orcid>0000-0002-5657-6995</orcid><order>4</order></author><author><firstname>Jane</firstname><surname>Mathieson</surname><order>5</order></author><author><firstname>Camilla</firstname><surname>Haw</surname><order>6</order></author><author><firstname>Kate</firstname><surname>Saunders</surname><order>7</order></author></authors><documents/><OutputDurs/></rfc1807>
spelling 2016-11-26T22:44:18.4999434 v2 23339 2015-09-17 Identifying and responding to suicide clusters and contagion ed8a9c37bd7b7235b762d941ef18ee55 0000-0002-5657-6995 Ann John Ann John true false 2015-09-17 HDAT This document is for people with responsibility for suicide prevention in local authorities and their partner agencies.Suicide clusters understandably cause great concern and may lead to hasty responses. It is important that plans for such occurrences are prepared in advance, to ensure a measured and effective response. Authorities need to remain vigilant for the sorts of suicidal behaviour that might lead to contagion, and put strategies in place to forestall this.This has been developed as a contribution to the National Suicide Prevention Strategy for England. It should be read alongside the guidance on developing local suicide action plans. (www.gov.uk/government/publications/suicide-prevention-developing-a-local- action-plan)The document includes: the meaning of the term ‘suicide clusters’, their identification, suggestions for who may be at risk of suicidal acts due to the influence of other people’s suicidal behaviour, the mechanisms involved, and the effects of suicide (including suicide clusters) on other individuals.The steps that need to be taken at local level to prepare for a suicide cluster are described. This necessitates the development of a community action plan (CAP), including suicide surveillance group (SSG) to review local occurrence of suicides and self-harm, together with a suicide response team (SRT) to deliver the plan. If all this is already in place, you may wish to move on to page 22, ‘Identification of a possible suicide cluster.’It is important to balance rapidity of response with careful thinking, which is why a series of checklists are included at the back of this report, to aid analysis. The need for close collaboration between children’s safeguarding agencies and the SRT is highlighted.Identifying possible suicide clusters can be difficult. Early indicators are described, together with the need to carefully establish the facts and avoid premature and possibly unhelpful responses.This document suggests responses to possible suicide clusters, especially preventing unhelpful media reporting, identification of individuals and groups who may be particularly vulnerable and practical interventions to reduce the risk of a spread of suicidal behaviour. It also covers help for those directly affected by suicidIn a group vulnerable to imitation it is crucial to take prevention measures after an initial suicide. Particular attention is paid to addressing suicides and their potential spread in mental health services and schools.In this age of instant information sharing it is possible for a cluster to be geographically dispersed. Local groups will need to alert other local authorities if this looks possible. The issue of when and how to wind down a response to a suicide cluster is also outlined, with emphasis on the fact that localities which have had clusters may be at heightened risk of further clusters.Finally, best practice is provided on evaluation of responses to a cluster and using the experience to improve further suicide prevention measures. Other Public Health England 31 12 2015 2015-12-31 https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/459303/Identifying_and_responding_to_suicide_clusters_and_contagion.pdf COLLEGE NANME Health Data Science COLLEGE CODE HDAT Swansea University 2016-11-26T22:44:18.4999434 2015-09-17T16:13:51.8635146 Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences Swansea University Medical School - Medicine Keith Hawton 1 Karen Lascelles 2 Anne Stewart 3 Ann John 0000-0002-5657-6995 4 Jane Mathieson 5 Camilla Haw 6 Kate Saunders 7
title Identifying and responding to suicide clusters and contagion
spellingShingle Identifying and responding to suicide clusters and contagion
Ann John
title_short Identifying and responding to suicide clusters and contagion
title_full Identifying and responding to suicide clusters and contagion
title_fullStr Identifying and responding to suicide clusters and contagion
title_full_unstemmed Identifying and responding to suicide clusters and contagion
title_sort Identifying and responding to suicide clusters and contagion
author_id_str_mv ed8a9c37bd7b7235b762d941ef18ee55
author_id_fullname_str_mv ed8a9c37bd7b7235b762d941ef18ee55_***_Ann John
author Ann John
author2 Keith Hawton
Karen Lascelles
Anne Stewart
Ann John
Jane Mathieson
Camilla Haw
Kate Saunders
format Other
publishDate 2015
institution Swansea University
publisher Public Health England
college_str Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences
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hierarchy_top_id facultyofmedicinehealthandlifesciences
hierarchy_top_title Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences
hierarchy_parent_id facultyofmedicinehealthandlifesciences
hierarchy_parent_title Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences
department_str Swansea University Medical School - Medicine{{{_:::_}}}Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences{{{_:::_}}}Swansea University Medical School - Medicine
url https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/459303/Identifying_and_responding_to_suicide_clusters_and_contagion.pdf
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description This document is for people with responsibility for suicide prevention in local authorities and their partner agencies.Suicide clusters understandably cause great concern and may lead to hasty responses. It is important that plans for such occurrences are prepared in advance, to ensure a measured and effective response. Authorities need to remain vigilant for the sorts of suicidal behaviour that might lead to contagion, and put strategies in place to forestall this.This has been developed as a contribution to the National Suicide Prevention Strategy for England. It should be read alongside the guidance on developing local suicide action plans. (www.gov.uk/government/publications/suicide-prevention-developing-a-local- action-plan)The document includes: the meaning of the term ‘suicide clusters’, their identification, suggestions for who may be at risk of suicidal acts due to the influence of other people’s suicidal behaviour, the mechanisms involved, and the effects of suicide (including suicide clusters) on other individuals.The steps that need to be taken at local level to prepare for a suicide cluster are described. This necessitates the development of a community action plan (CAP), including suicide surveillance group (SSG) to review local occurrence of suicides and self-harm, together with a suicide response team (SRT) to deliver the plan. If all this is already in place, you may wish to move on to page 22, ‘Identification of a possible suicide cluster.’It is important to balance rapidity of response with careful thinking, which is why a series of checklists are included at the back of this report, to aid analysis. The need for close collaboration between children’s safeguarding agencies and the SRT is highlighted.Identifying possible suicide clusters can be difficult. Early indicators are described, together with the need to carefully establish the facts and avoid premature and possibly unhelpful responses.This document suggests responses to possible suicide clusters, especially preventing unhelpful media reporting, identification of individuals and groups who may be particularly vulnerable and practical interventions to reduce the risk of a spread of suicidal behaviour. It also covers help for those directly affected by suicidIn a group vulnerable to imitation it is crucial to take prevention measures after an initial suicide. Particular attention is paid to addressing suicides and their potential spread in mental health services and schools.In this age of instant information sharing it is possible for a cluster to be geographically dispersed. Local groups will need to alert other local authorities if this looks possible. The issue of when and how to wind down a response to a suicide cluster is also outlined, with emphasis on the fact that localities which have had clusters may be at heightened risk of further clusters.Finally, best practice is provided on evaluation of responses to a cluster and using the experience to improve further suicide prevention measures.
published_date 2015-12-31T03:27:32Z
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