suicide note

plural suicide notes

1. A message, usually a written note, left by someone who later attempts or commits suicide, usually explaining the reason for the suicide.

   Twice I bought barbiturate pills, enough to finish anyone, and once I wrote a suicide note.

   1950, Elliot Paul, Springtime in Paris, page 285

   2 more examples

   Park left a suicide note to efface his trail and vanished - to turn up here the next day as Bonnie's grandfather.

   1938, Ellery Queen, The Four of Hearts

   In any event, in this round-robin of personal memories, this prolix suicide note is as close to a catamnestic report — that is, a patient history from Arthur himself as we are able to get.

   2004, Edwin S. Shneidman, Autopsy of a Suicidal Mind, page 8

   Synonyms: suicide letter