Year: 1994 Source: Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior, v.24, no.3, (Fall 1994), p.213-223 SIEC No: 19940815

Witnessed suicides account for a small percentage of all suicides but offer a unique view into self-destructive behaviour. An epidemiological and forensic description of 50 witnessed suicides drawn from a 15-year series of over 1,000 cases is presented. A taxonomy is developed based on the role played by the witness & related to previous work on self-destructive behaviour & its motivation. Brief vignettes are used to illustrate some of the interpersonal dynamics associated with these deaths.