How do I structure a suicide note and what should I include?

[goodnight]

I've been struggling to wrote a note. I don't know how to start it, what's important... I'm considering just not leaving a note, but it would be nice to leave something to show for my life

 

[lokimotion]

I plan on leaving something short for family and my wife. I too am struggling with what to include. One of the main reasons for me CTB is due to severe mental health issues and I don't know how much detail to go into on that and whether it might just be too disturbing...
It explains why I did it though so I'm kind of torn. Would be interested to know how long other people are thinking and what they included. I'm struggling to write it though - not in a good headspace and worried that it just sounds like a mess

I do think a note is better than nothing though

 

[Graytaichi]

Avoid things like pain , suffering. Encouraging words, life fullly . Make them feel loved and loved. Speaking of experience.

 

[Lebensunwertes]

It's difficult to provide much advice without knowing any of your circumstances. Summarize your recent life, highlight the reasons which pushed you towards this decision and explain how this has or has nothing to do with others, depending whether they should feel guilty/responsible about your demise.

Personally, my past years are easy to analyze as I've been documenting my declining mental state. In my farewell address I intend to explain why I decided to end my life prematurely, why my immediate family should not feel any guilt because of it and why this is a result of simply unfortunate cascade of circumstances that could have not been predicted.

 

[FuneralCry]

I feel like only you know what you should put in the note as it is your life after all, and only you know your situation. I think that I would just write down whatever comes to my mind that I would like to put in the note. For me, the purpose of a note would be to give those left behind some closure and would mean that they are not left with unanswered questions. I would say things like there is nothing that you could have done to prevent this and explain why I chose to do this.

 

[ooglah]

I plan on making a video to show them my state of mind - I'd like to appear calm and collective.

I plan on telling my family members that I love them, and as my 'last wish' I'm going to offer an idea on how they can heal together through this - i'm going to suggest psilocybin with my cousin facilitating the trip. I plan on explaining that I forgive certain people, and that my family should as well.

I want to include my distain for a Sheriff's depute and investigator as well as my disappointment in a district attorney, but I do not want to that take away from the 'positivity' of the I love you, there was no pain, a lot of thought went into this.

I also plan on leaving my passwords, account information (within reason) so they can access whatever they need to. I want my life to be as transparent as possible if they choose to seek more answers.

Stuff like that, haven't really rehearsed it, but I think it should be organic.

 

[outatime_85]

My note would at least explain that it was not their fault.

I would also leave information about how the burial is to be handled, as well as some other documents.

Should my family want more answers? My journals go into heavy detail about most of my thoughts, dating from my childhood to adulthood, and they continue to this day.

That said, knowing how my family is, I know regardless of how I word my note or the depth of all my journals, my family will not care about what life trauma I have, what I have experienced, what was done to me etc..

They will simply hand my body over to whom I have listed, and they will not miss or grieve my cashing-out.

 

[sourokraandfish]

Writting a note can be extremely hard. What's your purpose for leaving a note? It ultimately depends on you to decide what to put in it.

My parents have done so much for me, so I want to write a note and include things that I think could help bring them some closure. I would be distraught if someone I love took their life out of nowhere without leaving anything behind.

The note is not completed yet, but in general, the letter emphasizes that it's not their fault and that there's nothing they could've done. I then explained my reasons without going into too much detail about my disturbing thoughts. My biggest fear is that my parents blame themselves for my death so I tried to be thorough as much as possible.

Then I apologize for being a dick daughter and thank them for their unconditional love and patience. But, as Graytaichi said, I think I should also try to focus on writing about positive experiences with them to make them feel loved as well.

Finally, I wrote about some of my final wishes, including things like wanting to be cremated and asking my parents to to keep my suicide from my close friends.

 

[brokenbutterflies]

I love writing and so my notes for close friends and family are quite lengthy (e.g., I've included book recommendations for certain people because I'm known for being a bookworm) but that's not essential, it's just something that is quite me, so I think they'll like it. What I'd personally consider as the essential parts is to make sure (if it is true) to reassure them that they couldn't have changed the outcome, because a lot of people blame themselves after being bereaved in that way. I also think it's nice to leave a little highlight of a good memory you have with them, as I want people to focus on the good times I had with them and not how my life ends. And I'd also wish them well for the future, so they know you care about them and want them to continue living and to thrive, a lot of people feel guilty after loss about enjoying things.

 

[Jupit3rs]

I have a short note just explaining my reasoning behind it. I take full responsability for my decision and i tell everyone to not feel guilty, because regardless of everything, nothing could have changed the course of events. Also, i wrote that in case I ended up being found with brain damage, unable to speak or move (bc failing can happen, sadly) they let me go, because I'm tired of the suffering. Recommendations about what do with my body, arguments about the right to die and my feelings about my place in this world. I'm pretty sure I will seem delusional to people... i have weird thoughts after all, but i want to be authentic in my last moments.

 

[betternever2havbeen]

I started writing one but who knows if or when I'll ever get to use it. It's like 3 pages long, gonna have to cut it down, most of it is rambling about my feelings and how I could never function in life and it's just the way things are. Making sure no one thinks they could've prevented it or got me help because nothing would've worked and just don't feel guilt and move on etc.

 

[AliceTheGoon]

I wrote a brief one liner about my failing health along with thanks, apologies, and well-wishes to friends and family. When I wrote the note I intended to die away from home so I included a list of people and phone numbers to contact. I had a second version of the note to be found at home with some suggestions on who gets my money and possessions, and also a second note with bank account info.

 

[_smile_]

I think about this all the time! I have multiple drafts I've started and I think I want to leave a note for individual people. My parents, spouse, certain friends. I just want them to know how much I love them and there's nothing they could have done to change the outcome. I lived an amazing life, but the darkness consumed me after years and years of fighting it. I want them to feel special and not just have a generic note.

 

[jamie_]

i write most of my thiughts during the day on my notes app and i will usually take from that and jumble paragraphs together.