[Analysis of suicide notes form persons committing completed suicides]

Abstract

Aim: The present project is a descriptive research. Our aim was to analyse as thoroughly as possible the emotional content of suicide notes left by persons who committed suicide.

Method: Full texts of 250 suicide notes from 182 persons were content analysed. In total, we recorded 1375 'content units' in the letters, which could be classified into 62 categories.

Results: The emotions expressed towards acquaintances were rather positive than negative. On the basis of the results, we can claim that suicidal persons accuse themselves rather than their acquaintances of the suicidal act. The unbearable psychological pain, hopelessness, frustrated states, negative self-image, exhaustion and ambivalent emotional states all appeared in the letters.

Conclusion: In our research sample, there is a type of suicidal person, who suffers from negative self-image, exhaustion, and shows positive emotions towards acquaintances. There is another type of person who has narcissistic resentment, sends negative messages towards acquaintances, and accuses them for his own suicide.