Korean J Leg Med.  2014 Nov;38(4):155-166. 10.7580/kjlm.2014.38.4.155.

A Qualitative Study of Psychological State of Suicide Victims through Suicide Notes

• Ham K
• Pyo C
• Park J
• Na J
• Yoo SH
• Lee E

• KMID: 1928009
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.7580/kjlm.2014.38.4.155

Abstract

Suicide notes are essential for investigating the psychological state of suicide victims and establishing suicide prevention programs. Since only a few studies have attempted to identify the causes of suicidal behavior through suicide notes, it would be worth examining suicide notes. Quantitative research on suicide has offered a limited understanding of suicide. Results showed that the suicide victims had used the suicide note as a tool for their last communication. Further, in addition to neutral contents such as directions for funeral, the note often contained information about precipitating events that caused the suicidal ideation. Writing a suicide note seemed to help the victims consider concrete plans for suicide. This study proved that qualitative research on suicide notes would be helpful for researchers to understand suicide victims in depth, which cannot be achieved by quantitative methods alone. Based on these results, several suggestions for suicide prevention programs were discussed.

Keyword

Suicide; Victims; Psychological; Qualitative research; Prevention

MeSH Terms

Qualitative Research
Suicidal Ideation
Suicide*
Writing

Figure

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  Fig. 1. Coding procedure.

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  Fig. 2. Suicide completer's paradigm: types of suicide selection presented in the suicide note.

Reference

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