In these letters to the editor, the authors respond to an article by Hirschfeld & Russell on the treatment of suicidal patients (see SIEC #971063). Issues raised include: the failure to emphasize the importance of psychodynamic formulation & brief psychotherapy in suicidal crises; the biases of epidemiologic studies of suicide; pastoral care for those who request assisted sucide; & the omission of a discussion of treatment with lithium salts. Hirschfeld & Russell’s response follows.