6.1. Reduced quality of life and life is a struggle
This was the most common reason for suicide and was found in
15 suicide notes. These are some examples involving both
emotional and cognitive aspects of the person’s perception of his/
her own struggling:
“Every day decisions become a challenge.”;
“I can’t take anymore”;
“I cannot go on and I have no desire to go on living.”;
“Now I am giving it. I can’t live with it anymore and put a brave
face on……I can’t live like this anymore, it isn’t living it is only an
existence.”
6.2. Physical health problems
This was the next most common reason given. Both specific
and non-specific health issues were mentioned in 13 suicide notes.
For example:
“I decided that the risk of future stroke is too high for me to tolerate
so I will use the EXIT bag with helium”;
“For many many years I have suffered severe pain in all parts of
my body from head to toe.”;
Examples of other specific health issues included visual and
hearing impairment, stomach problems, throat problems and falls.
Non-specific health issue statements were also mentioned such as:
“I do not wish to continue living in current state of health” and
“my long battle with health”