Suicide notes

[MOoNLiGhT]

These suicide notes were gathered at the coroners' offices by a suicidologist/psychiatrist who asked to be anonymous. He edited identifying details out of the compiled manuscript, and we changed the names. But the text of each letter plus the age and sex given are real. All these people did kill themselves. Were they ambivalent about it? About half the hundred or so letters we saw seemed to have some element of doubt...

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What's a suicide note?

A suicide note is a message left by someone who later attempts or commits suicide. Approximately one third of those who commit suicide leave notes. Research indicates that suicide notes have a profound effect on the grief of those who read them.


The most common reasons in favor of writing a suicide note are:

¤ Easing pain - To make the death easier for those left behind, often by easing guilt.

¤ Closure - To bring relationships to a close and provide a satisfactory explanation of the reasons for the suicide.

¤ Autobiography - A summary of one's life or what one likes and dislikes.

¤ Artistic self-expression - Notes can take the form of a poem or short story.

¤ Instruction - An explanation of what one wants the readers of the note to do with his or her body, how one wants to be remembered, or things one wants to have happen.

¤ Revenge - To cause pain or guilt by blaming the suicide on others.



The most common reasons against writing a suicide note are:

¤ All or nothing - It is impossible to write a note that will eliminate all pain, anger and guilt.

¤ Consciousness - The person committing suicide will not be around when the note is later read. Also, some believe that one's death may cause the world to cease to exist in reality.

¤ Physical reminder - The suicide note could serve as a physical reminder of the suicide or could be constantly contemplated by those who read it, increasing their grief.