[net.suicide] suicide or murder?

jeff (11/20/82)

Its an observed fact that suicide attempters often settle upon one method
to the exclusion of other means.

Suicide interventionists quickly learn this and can use the information to
their advantage.  Once you know your potential victim's intended plan,
you can usually restrict your worrying to that particular method.  Someone who
has decided upon drugs, for example, probably isn't lethal around guns or
knives.  Often she'll show a surprising degreee of specificity - a particular
model of gun, kind of drug, a specific building or bridge...

(Yes, it is entirely reasonable to use ``she'' when discussing attempters.
Repeated suicide attempters are usually women, and the method of choice is
drugs.  In this country, it's the men who actually kill themselves.  Women
seem to prefer the non-disfiguring methods.  Men do it with guns.)

The specificity goes beyond method.  Potential suicides usually have a plan
which includes a particular time and place as well.  Lots of suicides occur on
an anniversery - of a marriage, divorce, or a parent's suicide.

	-jeff stearns

Another clue that private detectives could benefit from: 9 out of 10 suicide
attempters give up after their first try.