This article examines Snyder’s theory of hope & its application for understanding suicide. Strengths, weaknesses, & gaps in the suicide literature are outlined & Beck’s theory of hopelessness is compared with Synder’s hope theory. Hope theory constructs are used to examined the relationship of suicide to hope/hopelessness, goals, pathway thinking, & agency thinking. Implications for suicide prevention programs & approaches to treating suicidal individuals are outlined. (104 refs.)