Echo Cluster Research

Indigenous Suicide Clusters

Suicide rates in Indigenous communities of the Northern Territory are high, with dramatic increases in the past two decades. Suicide clustering, contagion and imitation have been observed as possible reasons for this increase and assuming the close temporal, geographic and interpersonal proximity for reach of news of a suicide, these factors can precipitate imitative suicidal behaviour.

This research found that suicide contagion and imitation are key factors in suicide clusters and accounted for three quarters of Indigenous suicide (77%) in the Northern Territory in a ten year period 1996–2005. It is a phenomenon which disproportionately affects Indigenous families and communities. Clusters are not age specific and occur in all age groups from age 10 – 55 years who completed suicide.

Suicides clusters are two or more completed suicides occurring in close temporal and geographic proximity. They often occur in Indigenous settings in the context of intense clustering of attempted suicide, imitative suicidal behaviour, and contagion effect.

Clusters can occur at a specific time, or over a period of time, which is referred to as temporal clusters; or can occur at a specific location, space or geography, which is referred to as geographic clusters.

Imitation occurs when a victim copies the suicide of a previous victim and can lead to the geographic patterning of suicide.

Contagion is a process whereby exposure to suicidal behaviour influences others to attempt or complete suicide and can occur in temporal clustering.

> Read more about Echo Clusters

> Read more about Suicide Contagion and Imitation