This article discusses the importance of contextual influences in suicide research, in terms of social, cultural, economic, or physical environments. The author discusses how these contextual influences, as a component of the cross level bias, can arise when aggregate level associations are assumed to also apply in individuals & vice versa. The author discusses contextual influences related to the issues of social selection versus causation, population density, & network effects. Mechanisms such as deviancy amplification, formalization of restraints, & buffering effects of social support are also examined. (48 refs.) (AK)