Seriousness of Suicide Attempt and Future Risk of Suicide: A Comment on Card's Paper

Abstract

Card (1974) distinguished between the lethality of suicide methods and suicide risk. According to her interpretation of her data the two variables were clearly distinct. This report reconsiders Card's data and tests a revised hypothesis on a different set of data. The conclusion that a serious threat to life resulting from a suicide attempt indicates an increased risk of suicide in the future is consistent with previous work as well as with Card's data, provided an alternative analysis is adopted.