Describes the formation, function, & decay of a spontaneously-occurring group of 6 suicidal patients on an open ward. They differed from non-members in terms of age, diagnosis, history of death & sexual acting-out in parents, history of socialization in deviant groups, & intense self-destructive behaviour. Suicide attempts & escapes from the ward were reduced during active group functioning, perhaps because the group allowed members to engage the staff in the same type of power struggle.