Some Clinical Considerations in the Prevention of Suicide Based on a Study of 134 Successful Suicides

In an attempt to determine clinical & ecological factors useful in suicide prevention, all suicides occurring in St. Louis & St. Louis County from May/56 – May/57 were investigated. A total of 119 cases were studied from coroners’ records, interviews with significant others & from hospital records. Findings indicated that 98% were clinically ill, 68% suffered from manic-depressive depression or chronic alcoholism & 62% of the depressive/alcoholic group had had medical/psychiatric care. 32 ref.