From the father of "suicidology," Edwin Shneidman, whose interest in the field began during his work at the VA, where he set out on a quest to review the suicide notes left in veterans' files, and see if he could begin to understand the pathology and the trajectory of what drove them to end their lives -- a form of psychological autopsy. His deeply caring and understanding quote:
"The most important question to a potentially suicidal person is not an inquiry about family history or laboratory tests of blood or spinal fluid, but "Where do you hurt?" and "How can I help you?""
-- The Suicidal Mind, by Edwin S. Shneidman. London: Oxford University Press (1996).
Editor's note: For previous articles about Shneidman and suicide, click here and here, among others.
