SUICIDE IN SAN FRANCISCO: REPORTED AND UNREPORTED

Abstract

Reported suicide in San Francisco was investigated for the period between July 1956, through June 1964. During that time 1664 persons killed themselves, according to the Coroner's records. The method most frequently used was oral ingestion of toxic substances, which significantly deviates from national statistics, shooting being the method most frequently reported. The explanation for this deviation is probably the more valid mortality statistics of San Francisco, and from this it may be inferred that unreported suicide may be largely suicide by ingestion, unrecognized because of lack of postmortem studies. Unreported suicide is further classified into intentioned (masked, suppressed and undiscovered) and subintentioned (oral-dependent and aggressive). Despite the fact that suicide has been a leading cause of death, the public and the medical profession are largely apathetic. An attempt is being made by Suicide Prevention of San Francisco, Inc. to develop a clinical and research facility for the study and treatment of suicidal persons.