Synopsis
A survey has been made of 38 studies of Australasian medical and hospital experiences with attempted and completed suicide in the last decade. The range and depth of the data recorded in the 38 studies have been analysed and reported together with comments on some other multivariate studies from overseas. The implications of these studies for the current medical views about attempted and completed suicide (are they two distinct types or do they lie on a continuum?) are discussed within a framework relating to the views about suicide that are embedded in our culture.