Suicide notes and their role in the suicide process

Abstract

A new method of approaching the psychological dimensions of the suicide process emerged about four decades ago: the study of suicide notes. Following the early euphoria regarding the results of this research, it became obvious that suicide notes are not a special window for full understanding of this phenomenon. The present article intends to use and contribute to the discourse based model for understanding the psychosocial and cultural dimensions of suicide. The re-interpretation of the meaning and function of suicide notes as part of the suicide process is of great importance for the understanding and recognition of suicide intent.