“I don’t write anymore... my life is clouded”

Analysis of suicide notes in the old age

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to look into the suicidal notes in old age through a quantitative
perspective. At the same time, with this age group, we tried to prove and determine which variables
got together to later establish dimensions that will, on the one hand, summarize the data supplied
and, on the other hand, shape groups that are intrinsically homogeneous but also significantly
different amongst them. 196 notes, written by 65-or-more-year-olds between 2004-2015 in 8
different provinces of Uruguay, have been analyzed. Three distinct groups of individuals were
detected, clearly defined by this technique