The relative role of life events experienced in the 6 months prior to a suicide attempt was examined. Attempters were compared with a crisis group & depressive controls. Suicide attempters reported 5 events (problems with friends, serious family problems, marital difficulties, punishment & major financial problems) more often than did depressive controls. Findings of this study support the view that suicide attempts are often an immediate reaction to stressful & environmental crisis. (6 refs.)