ABSTRACT
The rationale behind suicide, which is defined as the intentional taking of one’s life, can be as simple or as complex as life itself. The person who commits suicide may see his or her actions as some sort of solution to a severe physical or psychological dilemma. Often, a police investigator will find a note indicating that the victim had suffered psychological torment or was severely depressed. The note might even suggest that he or she believed that suicide was the last resort. Many of the suicide notes I have seen over the years indicate the acute depression of persons who have taken their lives. Depression does not discriminate. It affects the young and old alike.
