Dr. Eppinette Warns About Suicide Contagion

During the Illinois Senate Executive Committee hearing about assisted-suicide legislation (SB 9), Matthew Eppinette, MBA, PhD, the Executive Director of The Center for Bioethics & Human Dignity, testified as an opponent of this bill.

He warned committee members that suicide contagion is a very real issue that they should consider before passing this legislation.

Suicide contagion refers to the phenomenon where exposure to suicide or suicidal behavior increases the likelihood of suicidal thoughts or actions in others, particularly those who are vulnerable.

Research shows it’s most common among teens and young adults, where clusters of suicides can emerge in communities or schools after a single event. Social media can accelerate this by spreading news fast and unfiltered, sometimes creating echo chambers of despair.