A Quantitative and Qualitative Study of Notes Left by Youth Who Died by Suicide in Quebec from 1895 to 1985

Abstract

The study of suicide notes and the evolution of their content could contribute to a better understanding of reasons conducive to suicide mortality and offer further prevention strategies. From 1895 to 1985, 706 coroner’s inquests of individuals who died by suicide and were 20 years old or younger were found in the province of Quebec. Quantitative analysis compared those who left notes (n = 47) to those who did not leave notes (n = 659). Furthermore, notes were subjected to inductive thematic analysis. Sociodemographic characteristics of the deceased individuals did not change over time. Qualitative analysis revealed four superordinate themes: (1) last wishes, (2) to those I leave behind, (3) about me and how and why I did it, and (4) self-positioning in the world. Only the last theme evolved over the time period considered. Suicide notes shed light on the psychological state of the majority of young note leavers and suggest the persistent feelings of distress and entrapment before the suicide, which may be important factors for caregivers and family members to monitor.

Keywords:

• suicide notes
• adolescent
• inductive thematic analysis

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Our warmest thanks go to Annie Lyonnais and Drs. Corriveau, Perreault, and Cauchie’s team at the University of Ottawa; the Quebec Network on Suicide, Mood Disorders and Related Disorders; and the Laboratory of Historical Analysis of Social Regulations of the Université du Québec à Montréal. We also thank Paul Di Biase, freelance translator and reviewer. Everyone who contributed significantly to this manuscript has been mentioned in the Acknowledgments.

DISCLOSURE STATEMENT

The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Fabienne Ligier

Fabienne Ligier, MD, PhD, McGill Group on Suicide Studies, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, Research Center, Institut Universitaire en Santé Mentale de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; EA 4360 APEMAC, Université de Lorraine, Nancy, France; Centre Psychothérapique de Nancy, Pôle Universitaire de Psychiatrie de L'enfant et de l'adolescent, Laxou, France.

Laurent Michaud

Laurent Michaud, McGill Group on Suicide Studies, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, Chuv, Lausanne, Switzerland.

Bernard Kabuth

Bernard Kabuth, Centre Psychothérapique de Nancy, Pôle Universitaire de Psychiatrie de L'enfant et de l'adolescent, Laxou, France; Faculté de Médecine, Université de Lorraine, Nancy, France.

Alain Lesage

Alain Lesage, McGill Group on Suicide Studies, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Quebec, Canada; Research Center, Institut Universitaire en Santé Mentale de Montréal, Montréal, Quebec, Canada; Quebec Network on Suicide, Mood Disorders and Related Disorders, Verdun, Québec, Canada.

Patrice Corriveau

Patrice Corriveau, Department of Criminology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

Monique Séguin

Monique Séguin, McGill Group on Suicide Studies, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Quebec Network on Suicide, Mood Disorders and Related Disorders, Verdun, Québec, Canada; Department of Psychoeducation and Psychology, Université du Québec en Outaouais, Gatineau, Quebec, Canada; Centre Intégré de Santé et Service Social de L’Outaouais, Gatineau, Quebec, Canada.