This letter to the editor comments on the decline of the rate of death by suicide & about the validity of this fall. The official suicide rate in England & Wales has steadily declined, 120 per million in 1963 to 80 per million in 1970. It is a belief that coronerÕs are concealing more deaths by suicide than before therefore, concealing a rising incidence of suicide. However, evidence supports the view that the incidence of death by suicide is decreasing & the coronerÕs decisions truthfully reflect that decrease. (LC)