An Enquiry Into Suicide, Actual and Potential, From the Standpoint of the Life Insurance Underwriter

This presentation discussed the problems associated with potential suicides applying for life insurance. Underwriters cannot rely on the two-year suicide exclusion permitted by law but must attempt to identify the suicide-prone applicant & assess the risk of suicide as scientifically as possible. These issues were studied using data from suicide claims filed with the Great-West Life Assurance Company between 1970-1977.