On the Difficulty of Defining Suicide

Abstract

The discussion is made between the present suicide definition based on suicidal intention and the one presented by Stengel (1972) which is based on a subjective risk-taking criterion in the main groups of obscure cases of death. It has been deemed that the previous definition of suicidal intent is the better alternative after all, but preliminary investigations by police authorities and behaviour scientists ought to be intensified in different countries and co-operation between investigators and coroners increased. The definition based on a subjective risk-taking criterion can hardly be applicable alone, although it might have some significance as a supplement to the old definition in certain obscure cases of death.