By the Numbers - Nov. 3, 2014
18.25%
The percentage of 2,936 suicides in which a note was left by the deceased, according to a recently published article in the journal Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior -- Who Leaves Suicide Notes? A Six-Year Population-Based Study.
Although suicide notes are commonly referenced in popular media, according to the researchers, "The reality is that only a small fraction of suicide decedents leave notes or final statements such as email messages, texts, voice messages, or videos."
And, the researchers said, whereas suicide notes have sometimes been used as a "severity marker" of a suicide attempt, "suicide notes are relatively uncommon in the United States and their absence does not indicate anything systematic about the suicide or the decedent."
For those left behind, the absence of a suicide note may provoke doubt as to whether or not the death was actually a suicide, the researchers said. And yet, "(I)t is also likely that some people bereaved by suicide receive notes which leave them with more questions than answers."
18.25%
The percentage of 2,936 suicides in which a note was left by the deceased, according to a recently published article in the journal Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior -- Who Leaves Suicide Notes? A Six-Year Population-Based Study.
Although suicide notes are commonly referenced in popular media, according to the researchers, "The reality is that only a small fraction of suicide decedents leave notes or final statements such as email messages, texts, voice messages, or videos."
And, the researchers said, whereas suicide notes have sometimes been used as a "severity marker" of a suicide attempt, "suicide notes are relatively uncommon in the United States and their absence does not indicate anything systematic about the suicide or the decedent."
For those left behind, the absence of a suicide note may provoke doubt as to whether or not the death was actually a suicide, the researchers said. And yet, "(I)t is also likely that some people bereaved by suicide receive notes which leave them with more questions than answers."