The Content of Suicide Notes and the Role of Negation in the Presuicidal Process

The text presents the history of scientific suicide notes research, from the 1950s to the date of publication. The author highlights the positive results as well as the weaknesses of the “mainstream” suicidological theory. The results of a multidimensional content analysis, made on contemporary suicide notes & farewell letters of patriots, executed during the second world war, are also presented. The author pays special attention to the role of negation in the presuicidal process. (15 refs)