Reported suicides in Papua/New Guinea from 1961-65 were analyzed to assess incidence, methods, & where possible, motives. The authors concluded that the indigeneous population had the lowest suicide rate in the world (0.7/100,000). Shame was found to be an important & common motive for suicide. Other motives such as depression & bereavement are also discussed. Suicide among Europeans & mixed-ethnicity groups is examined briefly. (15 refs.) (MM)