The suicidal mind

background in psychology and has apparently had many years of experience working as a consultant in thanatology and psychological autopsy. The premise propounded by the author is that ‘psych-ache’, or extreme psychological pain, culminates in suicide and is in turn caused by many years of unhappy experiences since childhood and of unfulfilled psychological needs and demands. To illustrate his views on unfulfilled needs, he gives vignettes of three individuals—one of whom was treated by the author—who presented suicidal acts. Unfortunately, one ultimately committed suicide, another died from complications from the previous suicide attempt, and the third relapsed into chronic anorexic posture despite receiving psychotherapy. The prevention of suicide, according to Dr Schneid