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

Julie Cerel; Melinda Moore; Margaret M. Brown; Judy Van De Venne; Sabrina L. Brown

doi:10.1111/sltb.12131

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

Julie Cerel, Melinda Moore, Margaret M. Brown, Judy Van De Venne, Sabrina L. Brown

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

28 Scopus citations

Abstract

Popular culture insists on the significance of suicide notes, but research has yielded conflicting results about who leaves notes. Utilizing 6 years of suicides from a comprehensive statewide data surveillance system, differences were examined between cases with suicide notes and those without in terms of demographics, circumstances of the suicide, and precipitating circumstances. Of the 2,936 suicides, 18.25% included a note. Demographics and circumstances did not differ for cases with a note compared to cases with no note. Results have implications for working with people bereaved by suicide in helping understand that the notes are uncommon and not systematic. However, it is also possible that for some individuals, the content of a note is meaningful and can help or hinder their course of bereavement.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	326-334
Number of pages	9
Journal	Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior
Volume	45
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/sltb.12131
State	Published - Jun 1 2015

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2014 The American Association of Suicidology.

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Clinical Psychology
Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
Psychiatry and Mental health

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1111/sltb.12131

Cite this

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abstract = "Popular culture insists on the significance of suicide notes, but research has yielded conflicting results about who leaves notes. Utilizing 6 years of suicides from a comprehensive statewide data surveillance system, differences were examined between cases with suicide notes and those without in terms of demographics, circumstances of the suicide, and precipitating circumstances. Of the 2,936 suicides, 18.25% included a note. Demographics and circumstances did not differ for cases with a note compared to cases with no note. Results have implications for working with people bereaved by suicide in helping understand that the notes are uncommon and not systematic. However, it is also possible that for some individuals, the content of a note is meaningful and can help or hinder their course of bereavement.",

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AB - Popular culture insists on the significance of suicide notes, but research has yielded conflicting results about who leaves notes. Utilizing 6 years of suicides from a comprehensive statewide data surveillance system, differences were examined between cases with suicide notes and those without in terms of demographics, circumstances of the suicide, and precipitating circumstances. Of the 2,936 suicides, 18.25% included a note. Demographics and circumstances did not differ for cases with a note compared to cases with no note. Results have implications for working with people bereaved by suicide in helping understand that the notes are uncommon and not systematic. However, it is also possible that for some individuals, the content of a note is meaningful and can help or hinder their course of bereavement.

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

Abstract

Bibliographical note

ASJC Scopus subject areas

UN SDGs

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