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Centre for Policy on Ageing | |
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| The significance of suicide notes in the elderly | | Author(s) | E Salib, S Cawley, R Healy |
| Journal title | Aging & Mental Health, vol 6, no 2, May 2002 |
| Pages | pp 186-190 |
| Source | http://www.tandfonline.com |
| Keywords | Suicide ; Coroners inquests ; Cheshire. |
| Annotation | Suicide notes are traditionally considered as markers of the severity of the suicide attempt, and are said to provide valuable insight into the thinking of suicide victims before the fatal act. This study examine the phenomenon in older people who died unexpectedly over a 10-year period (1989-1998) in Cheshire. Out of 125 suicides, 54 (43%) had left suicide notes, which were reported in the coroner's records. Of these, 31 were male and 23 female. The note-leavers were more likely to be unknown to psychiatric services, and to have used a non-violent method of suicide. Sex, marital status, social isolation, mental or physical morbidity did not appear to be linked with leaving a suicide note. Most cases that took an overdose, used plastic bags, electrocuted themselves, or used car exhausts also left suicide notes. Those who died by more violent means such as hanging, drowning, jumping from height, immolation or wounding appeared less likely to have left a note. Although only a proportion of older suicide victims leave suicide notes, the absence of a note must not be considered an indicator of a less serious attempt. (RH). |
| Accession Number | CPA-020613215 A |
| Classmark | EV: JVM: 8CH |
Data © Centre for Policy on Ageing |
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| ...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing. |
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