SUICIDE AND AGE - A SUICIDE NOTE ANALYSIS

Tested the hypothesis that suicidal ideation varies with age. 259 suicide notes were analyzed. This represented all of the suicide notes written by individuals who committed suicide during a 3-yr period who resided in 34 moderately advantaged natural communities. The method of analysis involved categorizing each note according to a scheme of 5 general categories: (1) addressee, (2) reasons stated, (3) affect indicated, (4) specific content, and (5) general focus of note. The notes were divided into 4 age groups 20-39, 40-49, 50-59, and 60 and over and compared with reference to the 5 general categories. Differences between age groups were found significant at the .05 level for Categories 2 and 5. specific items within each category were discussed when such items were found statistically more or less often in the notes of 1 age group than in the notes of the other age groups. Suggestions for treatment and prevention of suicide are offered. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved). © 1969 American Psychological Association.