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Related Experiment Videos

Who leaves suicide notes? A six-year population-based study.

Julie Cerel1, Melinda Moore2, Margaret M Brown3

  • 1College of Social Work, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA.

Suicide & Life-Threatening Behavior
|October 14, 2014
PubMed
Summary

Suicide notes are uncommon, with only 18.25% of cases including one. Demographics and circumstances of suicide did not differ between those who left a note and those who did not.

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Area of Science:

  • Forensic Psychology
  • Public Health Surveillance

Background:

  • Popular culture often emphasizes the significance of suicide notes.
  • Previous research on the characteristics of individuals leaving suicide notes has produced conflicting results.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine differences between suicide cases with and without notes.
  • To analyze demographics, suicide circumstances, and precipitating factors in relation to note-leaving.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized 6 years of suicide data from a comprehensive statewide surveillance system.
  • Compared cases with suicide notes to those without notes.

Main Results:

  • Out of 2,936 suicides, 18.25% included a note.
  • No significant differences were found in demographics or circumstances between cases with and without suicide notes.

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Conclusions:

  • Suicide notes are uncommon and not systematically left by a specific demographic or circumstance.
  • Findings have implications for bereavement support, highlighting the rarity of notes and their potential varied impact on grief.