This study examines relationships between the most common psychiatric illnesses & the most common stressors in 283 people who died by suicide in San Diego County. The authors report that interpersonal loss/conflicts occurred more frequently near the time of death for substance abusers than for persons diagnosed with pure affective disorder. The results suggest that there may be a difference between the way suicidal persons with substance abuse & pure affective disorder respond to certain external stressors. (20 refs) (SC)