Youth Suicide-Attempt Risk Was Higher After Network Exposure

Adolescents and young adults who were exposed to a suicide attempt within their social network had higher odds of making a first suicide attempt during follow-up, according to a national longitudinal cohort study in JAMA Network Open.

The analysis included 2,098 U.S. participants aged 13 to 22 years who had no lifetime suicide attempt at baseline. Participants were surveyed at baseline, 12 months, and 24 months. At baseline, 34.6% reported exposure to a suicide attempt in their social network during the prior year.

Network exposure was associated with subsequent suicide attempt onset (odds ratio, 2.78; P<.001). The association remained after adjustment for depressive symptoms (odds ratio, 2.43; P<.001). Adjusted estimated probabilities of an attempt were 3% with network exposure and 1% without exposure.

Exposure was not significantly associated with new-onset suicidal ideation, although it was associated with higher depressive symptoms over time. Larger in-person social networks were associated with fewer depressive symptoms, while online network size was not associated with attempt onset.

The investigators said the findings support viewing suicide risk as socially embedded and suggest that asking about recent exposure to attempts may identify vulnerable youths who could be missed by symptom-focused screening. The observational design cannot establish causation, and exposure and outcomes were self-reported, but the prospective association persisted after adjustment for several measured risk factors.

Source: Mitchell KJ, Banyard V. Suicide risk after social network exposure to suicide attempts in adolescents and young adults. JAMA Netw Open. 2026;9(8):e2630409. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2026.30409