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Differences between suicide note leavers and other suicides: A German psychological autopsy study
Anne Lang1, Peter Brieger1, Susanne Menzel1
1kbo-Isar Amper Klinikum, Region München, Munich, Germany.
Journal of Psychiatric Research
|March 7, 2021
Summary
Suicide notes offer insights into victim demographics and circumstances. Note writers were more often female, experienced financial or relationship crises, and had medical illnesses, differing from non-note writers.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Criminology
- Sociology
Background:
- Suicide notes are valuable research tools for suicide prevention.
- It remains unclear if individuals who leave notes are representative of all suicide victims.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare suicide victims who leave notes versus those who do not.
- To identify demographic and clinical differences between these two groups.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of data from the Allgäu Suicide Study (N=626).
- Multiple regression analyses were employed to compare note leavers and non-leavers.
- Data from 612 cases with complete information were analyzed.
Main Results:
- 42% (n=255) of cases left a suicide note; 58% (n=357) did not.
- Note writers were more frequently female, less often married, and experienced financial or partnership crises.
- Note writers were more likely to have a medical illness and used poisoning as a method, with less history of alcohol abuse disorder.
Conclusions:
- Suicide notes provide insights into motives and can aid in improving suicide prevention strategies.
- Note writers may particularly benefit from psychosocial and psychotherapeutic interventions due to the apparent importance of interpersonal relationships.
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