This article explores 3 broad concepts from the theoretical literature on suicide that have explanatory potential in the context of gay men with AIDS. The 3 concepts are: the search for meaning in the midst of suffering, Shneidman’s notion of unendurable psychological pain, & hopelessness. This article attempts to demonstrate how these concepts can incorporate the experiences of gay men with AIDS & contribute to the understanding of the problem of suicide in this population. (80 refs.)