Young women (n=110, aged 18-30) who attempted suicide scored in a significantly more external manner than a control group on a locus of control scale. However, for the suicide attempters, those whose attempt resulted in the most risk to life tended to score more internally than those whose attempt caused negligible physical harm. There was a significant correlation between locus of control scores & hopelessness (not with depression) & between locus of control scores & perceived childhood stress.