Suicide Types: Indirect Suicide (IN: Macmillan Encyclopedia of Death and Dying, vol.2: L-Z, ed. by R Kastenbaum)

The author of this entry reviews a range of indirect suicidal behaviors in which death results gradually rather than immediately, & in which the degree of intentionality is less obvious than in an overt suicide attempt. Psychological interpretations of such actions are explored, & the presence of indirect suicidal behaviors in non-human species is discussed. The findings of recent research are also explored. (13 refs)