Is Suicide Contagious?

The term “suicide contagion” gets thrown around a lot in academic papers and media headlines, but what does it actually mean? The term suggests that suicidal ideation is something you can catch, but the reality is much more complicated. This week, we navigate the complexities of suicide clusters from the heart of Silicon Valley, California to the soul of Cowboy Strong, Wyoming.   Season 2 of Last Day is created in partnership with The Jed Foundation. The Jed Foundation (JED) empowers teens and young adults with the skills and support to grow into healthy, thriving adults. You can find tips, tools and resources for taking care of your emotional health available at: www.jedcares.org/lastday   Resources from the episode: Check out Lisa Hao’s Jed Talk Learn about QPR Gatekeeper Training for Suicide Prevention Get to know other Jed Foundation storytellers at https://www.jedfoundation.org/storytellers/. To learn more about recommendations for reporting on suicide, visit https://reportingonsuicide.org/.   If you or someone you know is struggling emotionally or feeling hopeless, it’s important to talk to someone about it now. Contact one of the resources below for a free, confidential conversation with a trained counselor anytime.    National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255 Crisis Text line: Text “Connect” to 741-741 The Trevor Project: 1-866-488-7386   Support the show by checking out our sponsors: In times like these, who wants to risk going to the grocery store? Here’s where HelloFresh comes in, by offering convenient delivery right to your doorstep. Go to www.hellofresh.com/lastday90 and use code LASTDAY90 to get $90 off including free shipping. The overhauled Stitcher podcast app makes it easier to listen to podcasts on the go, including all ad free Last Day episodes on Stitcher Premium. Test it out for yourself at www.stitcherapp.com/lastday.   Dr. Nzinga Harrison teaches us all about turning addiction treatment into recovery for life in another Lemonada original, In Recovery. Check it out wherever you listen to podcasts.   To follow along with a transcript and/or take notes for friends and family, go to https://www.lemonadamedia.com/show/last-day shortly after the air date.   Stay up to date with us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at @LemonadaMedia See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Om Podcasten

Let’s talk about what’s killing us, the stuff that’s hard to comprehend and getting worse every day. Join host Stephanie Wittels Wachs, as she confronts massive epidemics with humanity, wit, and a quest for progress. While Season 1 chronicled the opioid crisis in America, Season 2 delves into the growing suicide rate, telling real stories, talking to experts, and asking everyone along the way, "How did we get here, and what could we have done differently?"