Citation

Leenaars AA, Lester D. Death Stud. 1991; 15(3): 303-308.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1991, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/07481189108252433

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Research has indicated that the lay public is unaware of essential hallmarks of a suicide note. Furthermore, studies have been unable to isolate what characteristics of suicide notes allow people to perceive a suicide note as genuine. We compared a sample of more or less obvious genuine notes on the basis of what subjects themselves reported to be their basis for selection. The phenomenological findings suggested that people often look for a traumatic event as a key to identifying the suicidal cry. Beyond this characteristic, we found no consistency; rather, people held their own idiosyncratic views, often ones that are myths. Indeed, people had strikingly contradictory perceptions. The results are interpreted to suggest that educating people about suicide notes may be a key to prevention.

Language: en