Attempted Suicide: A Critical Analysis of Social Work Services Available in Public Hospitals in Melbourne

Abstract

The words “attempted suicide” have perhaps unfortunate connotations. “Attempted” implies that an act has failed to achieve its aim. Do all those people committing suicidal acts really wish to die? or is it something else to which they are calling our attention? McCullock and Philip argue that over the years the idea has developed that attempted suicide is failed suicide. They state that few writers have adequately defined the non-fatal suicide behaviour they have studied.