Presents Beck Depression Inventory data & findings from measures of suicidal intent, hopelessness & vocabulary, on 246 attempters. Some results: older suicidal persons were less likely to be black, to have made previous attempts & threats; more intent on dying (though they did not make more lethal attempts), abused alcohol more, while younger suicidal persons abused other drugs more. Like nonsuicidal older persons, older suicidal persons were in poorer physical health & more often lived alone.