Suicide notes from Mexico and the United States: a thematic analysis.
OBJECTIVE
This study sought to investigate suicide notes drawn from Mexico and the United States (US) as these countries share geographical proximity, but markedly different cultures and suicide rates.


METHODS
A theoretical conceptual analysis of 102 suicide notes drawn from these countries, matched for age and sex, was undertaken based on a thematic model of suicide developed by Leenaars,1,2 across countries.


RESULTS
The inter-judge reliability was adequate (.86 coefficient of concordance).


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggested that there are more psychological commonalities than differences. Yet, as this study marks the first one using suicide notes, between Mexico and the USA, much greater study is warranted.
Chávez-Hernández
Ana-María
AM
Universidad de Guanajuato, León Guanajuato, México. anamachavez@hotmail.com
Leenaars
Antoon A
AA
Chávez-de Sánchez
María-Isabel
MI
Leenaars
Lindsey
L
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001293:Attitude to Death; D015709:Correspondence as Topic; D003469:Culture; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015141:Los Angeles / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult