The efficacy of groups in preventing suicide: Is contagion a concern of the past?

Abstract

Received: June 18, 2019; Accepted: June 24, 2019; Published: June 28, 2019 The efficacy and safety of including individuals at risk for suicide in groups is a polarizing topic that has been debated since the 1960s [1]. Often suicide has been viewed as a problematic factor in groups, specifically, researchers report suicidal individuals disturb the group process, and increase risk of harm [2,3]. Yalom wrote that suicidal patients do not benefit from groups because they, “do not receive the specialized attention they require” and the “threat of suicide is too taxing; too anxiety provoking for group members to manage” (p. 231). Additionally, some report that groups make it easier for suicidal individuals to conceal or evade [4]. However, one of the biggest concerns of suicide-focused groups is the effect of contagion (e.g., exposure to suicide leadings to one’s own suicide death) [5]. While some research regarding the development and efficacy of suicide groups was published in the 1960’s and 1970’s, there is a paucity of research in the past 50 years concerning the relationship between suicide risk and group therapy. Furthermore, the literature that does exist on this topic is contradictory with some fearing contagion related outcomes [6,7] and others noting the value of suicide prevention groups [8,9]. Therefore, this brief review aims to explore the use of groups in a population at risk for suicide and whether contagion is a concern within these groups.