Suicide is a major public health issue with over 800,000 people
dying by suicide globally every year (World Health Organisation,
2015). In 2012 it accounted for 1.4% of all deaths worldwide,
making it the 15th leading cause of death (World Health Organisation,
2015). Suicide is a heterogeneous phenomenon and a
number of research methodologies are used to study it including
epidemiology, psychological autopsies and coronial records.
Although studying suicide notes provides a unique opportunity to
understand the motives, psychodynamic factors and state of mind
of individuals who proceed to suicide, it has not been studied
frequently (Demirel et al., 2008). Suicide notes contain direct
information penned by the individual and the quality of the data
may be more reflective of their mental state than information
obtained from other informants (Ho et al., 1998). Suicide notes
may also have a therapeutic role in helping surviving families and
friends to understand the suicide and help inform suicide prevention
strategies (Ho et al., 1998).