This, the first of several medical bulletins on suicide, covers definitions, statistics, & general suggestions for prevention. Issues in defining suicide include: classifying on the basis of behavioural characteristics, characteristics of the act, psychiatric diagnoses, theoretical categories (e.g. Durkheim’s typology), intent, & logical fallacies which lead to suicide. U.S. statistics, 10 myths about suicide & suggestions for hospital administration are discussed. (7 refs.) (RM)