--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Suicide is a behavioral contagion. It's…" description: "\"“Suicide is a behavioral contagion. It's old adage \"If all your friends jumped off a bridge, then would you, too?\" Apparently, the answer is yes.”\" — S..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc9/suzanne-young-7106_contagion_suicide-is-a-behavioral-contagion-it-s-o_314423.jpg" --- # Suicide is a behavioral contagion. It's old adage "If all… ![“Suicide is a behavioral contagion. It's old adage "If all your friends jumped off a bridge, then would you, too?" Apparently, the answer is yes.” quote by Suzanne Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc9/suzanne-young-7106_contagion_suicide-is-a-behavioral-contagion-it-s-o_314423.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc9/suzanne-young-7106_contagion_suicide-is-a-behavioral-contagion-it-s-o_314423.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc9/suzanne-young-7106_contagion_suicide-is-a-behavioral-contagion-it-s-o_314423.jpg) > ““Suicide is a behavioral contagion. It's old adage "If all your friends jumped off a bridge, then would you, too?" Apparently, the answer is yes.”” [Suzanne Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-young/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote warns that suicidal behavior can spread like a contagion, similar to peer pressure, suggesting that exposure increases risk. **In simple terms:** Suicide can spread through social influence, like a contagious idea. Key Takeaway Be mindful of how suicide is discussed publicly. Themes mental health contagion social influence risk factors Mood empathetic informative Type educational preventive When to use this quote - school counseling - online forums - support groups - media reporting Key Concepts psychology public health media impact Questions to Reflect On - What safeguards can reduce harmful influence? - How can media responsibly report suicide? A Different Perspective Not all exposure leads to contagion; protective factors matter. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Contagion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contagion/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Suicide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suicide/) ## Related quotes > [If you jumped off the bridge in Paris, you'd be in Seine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/if-you-jumped-off-the-bridge-in-paris-you-d-be-in-seine/) [Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/) > [If all my friends jumped off a bridge, I wouldn't. I would be at the bottom to catch them](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-all-my-friends-jumped-off-a-bridge-i-wouldn-t-i-would-be-at-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Or about how when you're a child, to stop you from following the crowd you're assaulted with the line "If everyone jumped off a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-toltz/or-about-how-when-you-re-a-child-to-stop-you-from-following-the-crowd/) [Steve Toltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-toltz/) > [“David had heard this before, and knew you were supposed to say no. But was that really true? If everyone jumped off a bridge,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-m-cusick/david-had-heard-this-before-and-knew-you-were-supposed-to-say-no-but/) [John M. Cusick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-m-cusick/) > [If my friends jumped off a bridge, I wouldn't jump with them, I'd be at the bottom waiting to catch them](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-my-friends-jumped-off-a-bridge-i-wouldn-t-jump-with-them-i-d-be-at/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If I jumped off a bridge would you save me? no, I'd jump with you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenzie-ann/if-i-jumped-off-a-bridge-would-you-save-me-no-i-d-jump-with-you/) [Kenzie-ann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenzie-ann/) > [If all my friends jumped off a bridge I wouldn't jump with them I would be at the bottom to catch them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-all-my-friends-jumped-off-a-bridge-i-wouldn-t-jump-with-them-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“If everyone you knew jumped off a bridge, would you too?” Dr. Roger asked. David had heard this before and knew you were supposed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-m-cusick/if-everyone-you-knew-jumped-off-a-bridge-would-you-too-dr-roger-asked/) [John M. Cusick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-m-cusick/) > [After my best friend jumped off the bridge, I knew that I was next. So-Paris. With forty dollars and a one-way ticket.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-baldwin/after-my-best-friend-jumped-off-the-bridge-i-knew-that-i-was-next-so/) [James A. Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-baldwin/) > [If all my friends jumped off a bridge, I wouldn't jump with them. I'd be at the bottom, hoping to catch them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-berry/if-all-my-friends-jumped-off-a-bridge-i-wouldn-t-jump-with-them-i-d/) [Steve Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-berry/) > [For a split second I felt as though she was nobody special in the larger scheme of my life. She was just some girl…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-july/for-a-split-second-i-felt-as-though-she-was-nobody-special-in-the/) [Miranda July](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-july/) > [Hauntings are memes, especially pernicious thought contagions, social contagions that need no viral or bacterial host and are transmitted in a thousand different ways.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caitl-n-r-kiernan/hauntings-are-memes-especially-pernicious-thought-contagions-social/) [Caitlín R. Kiernan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caitl-n-r-kiernan/) > [War is a contagion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/war-is-a-contagion/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [“I thought if I loved you enough I could change you. I was so stupid.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-ramirez/i-thought-if-i-loved-you-enough-i-could-change-you-i-was-so-stupid/) [Steven Ramirez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-ramirez/) > [The fact that I was fortunate enough to escape contagion, in spite of frequent, sometimes daily contacts with the disease, was because I soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-jules-henry-nicole/the-fact-that-i-was-fortunate-enough-to-escape-contagion-in-spite-of/) [Charles Jules Henry Nicole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-jules-henry-nicole/) ## More by Suzanne Young > [“he lets me take the orders, standing at my side like my own personal Mexican food encyclopedia”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-young/he-lets-me-take-the-orders-standing-at-my-side-like-my-own-personal/) [Suzanne Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-young/) > [“You’ll make a sucky father someday,” I tell him with a smile. “I feel sorry for the kid that doesn’t get to burst into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-young/you-ll-make-a-sucky-father-someday-i-tell-him-with-a-smile-i-feel/) [Suzanne Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-young/) > [“To fall in love with him even though I was right here?” “You’re not really my type, Abe,” I say. “I’m too handsome?” He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-young/to-fall-in-love-with-him-even-though-i-was-right-here-you-re-not/) [Suzanne Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-young/) > [“For a brief second I remember everything about who and what I used to be. But most of all, I remember Harlin. And I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-young/for-a-brief-second-i-remember-everything-about-who-and-what-i-used-to/) [Suzanne Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-young/) > [“It’s nice to see Cameron has friends again,” she whispers to me. “I’ve been worried about him.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-young/it-s-nice-to-see-cameron-has-friends-again-she-whispers-to-me-i-ve/) [Suzanne Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-young/) > [“He said that some things are better left in the past. And true things are destined to repeat themselves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-young/he-said-that-some-things-are-better-left-in-the-past-and-true-things/) [Suzanne Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-young/) > [“I realize then that I’m filled with memories, both mine and Charlotte’s. It’s like I’ve lived one full life and not two separate ones.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-young/i-realize-then-that-i-m-filled-with-memories-both-mine-and-charlotte/) [Suzanne Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-young/) > [“There is still so much I want to know, want to ask. But before I can say anything else, the world stops. There’s silence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-young/there-is-still-so-much-i-want-to-know-want-to-ask-but-before-i-can/) [Suzanne Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-young/) > [“Harlin needs you,” she whispers. “He loves you too much.” I smile a little. “I know. But I like that about him.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-young/harlin-needs-you-she-whispers-he-loves-you-too-much-i-smile-a-little/) [Suzanne Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-young/) > [“Evan sniffles and looks up at me. “But I made it for you,” he says.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-young/evan-sniffles-and-looks-up-at-me-but-i-made-it-for-you-he-says/) [Suzanne Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-young/) > [“It’s nice to meet you, Elise,” he says, a slow, sexy smile pulling at his lips. “I’m Harlin.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-young/it-s-nice-to-meet-you-elise-he-says-a-slow-sexy-smile-pulling-at-his/) [Suzanne Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-young/) > [“Sometimes we have to argue, fight. That’s all there is to it. When people think you’re a delinquent, they treat you badly, they disrespect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-young/sometimes-we-have-to-argue-fight-that-s-all-there-is-to-it-when/) [Suzanne Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-young/) > [“Was I a science experiment? Did he want to pin me down and dissect me?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-young/was-i-a-science-experiment-did-he-want-to-pin-me-down-and-dissect-me/) [Suzanne Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-young/) > [“If it's meant to be, you'll find each other again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-young/if-it-s-meant-to-be-you-ll-find-each-other-again/) [Suzanne Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-young/) > [“In my head I hear a whisper, or rather the memory of a whisper. The familiar voice is soft, and it warms me from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-young/in-my-head-i-hear-a-whisper-or-rather-the-memory-of-a-whisper-the/) [Suzanne Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-young/) [Explore all 93 Suzanne Young quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-young/) ## More Contagion quotes > [The fact that I was fortunate enough to escape contagion, in spite of frequent, sometimes daily contacts with the disease, was because I soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-jules-henry-nicole/the-fact-that-i-was-fortunate-enough-to-escape-contagion-in-spite-of/) [Charles Jules Henry Nicole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-jules-henry-nicole/) > [“I thought if I loved you enough I could change you. I was so stupid.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-ramirez/i-thought-if-i-loved-you-enough-i-could-change-you-i-was-so-stupid/) [Steven Ramirez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-ramirez/) > [War is a contagion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/war-is-a-contagion/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [“I don’t know how these things died without benefit of a bullet to the brain pan. They seemed to exist in an eternal twilight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-ramirez/i-don-t-know-how-these-things-died-without-benefit-of-a-bullet-to-the/) [Steven Ramirez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-ramirez/) > [A cold and searching wind drives away all contagion, and nothing can withstand it but what has a virtue in it, and accordingly, whatever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/a-cold-and-searching-wind-drives-away-all-contagion-and-nothing-can/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“Only one form of contagion travels faster than a virus, Sinskey thought. And that’s fear.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-brown/only-one-form-of-contagion-travels-faster-than-a-virus-sinskey/) [Dan Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-brown/) > [Occupy Wall Street is meant more as a way of life that spreads through contagion, creates as many questions as it answers, aims to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-rushkoff/occupy-wall-street-is-meant-more-as-a-way-of-life-that-spreads/) [Douglas Rushkoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-rushkoff/) > [Even papists could not see that a moral evil was detained in the soul through its physical connection with the body; and that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-clarke/even-papists-could-not-see-that-a-moral-evil-was-detained-in-the-soul/) [Adam Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-clarke/) > [Ninety-nine per cent of the people in the world are fools and the rest of us are in great danger of contagion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thornton-wilder/ninety-nine-per-cent-of-the-people-in-the-world-are-fools-and-the/) [Thornton Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thornton-wilder/) > [“Remember. Observe, assess and act. No hesitation. No remorse.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-ramirez/remember-observe-assess-and-act-no-hesitation-no-remorse/) [Steven Ramirez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-ramirez/) > [Hauntings are memes, especially pernicious thought contagions, social contagions that need no viral or bacterial host and are transmitted in a thousand different ways.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caitl-n-r-kiernan/hauntings-are-memes-especially-pernicious-thought-contagions-social/) [Caitlín R. Kiernan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caitl-n-r-kiernan/) > [Every revolution begins as consciousness because some group of people has to imagine change. You have to have the idea of change or at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-steinem/every-revolution-begins-as-consciousness-because-some-group-of-people/) [Gloria Steinem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-steinem/) > [If I had political responsibility, I would want to prepare for a plan B that would foresee that the European currency union, that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peer-steinbruck/if-i-had-political-responsibility-i-would-want-to-prepare-for-a-plan/) [Peer Steinbruck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peer-steinbruck/) > [“Drive. He’s already dead.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-ramirez/drive-he-s-already-dead/) [Steven Ramirez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-ramirez/) > [The hungry sheep look up, and are not fed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/the-hungry-sheep-look-up-and-are-not-fed/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) [Browse all 148 Contagion quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contagion/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Suicide is a behavioral contagion. 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