Effective prediction of suicide remains problematic. In this brief summary, the author suggests an alternative suicide predictor, the next self injury act, regardless of lethality of method. In adopting this strategy suicidologists will need to consider e.g. the suicide career model, & more subjective, new or transitory motives than in the past; use computers to review the large array of data, & to generate computer interviews & patient answers, the best source of new short term predictors. (GW)