I'm going to say this as someone who's attempted suicide more than once and failed.
How can you rely on self-reporting? Self-reporting requires awareness and it can't be assumed that people are aware of their affliction; it also requires that the doctor takes it seriously.
You know how many people commit suicide, but unless you leave a detailed note behind your reasons are completely unknown and all that is left is a medical history which in itself may not be reliable or complete.
This is where the pain of dealing with a suicidal loved-one kicks in: you don't know what they were thinking. You can only fill in the gaps: they were happy all of a sudden, etc.
How can you rely on self-reporting? Self-reporting requires awareness and it can't be assumed that people are aware of their affliction; it also requires that the doctor takes it seriously.
You know how many people commit suicide, but unless you leave a detailed note behind your reasons are completely unknown and all that is left is a medical history which in itself may not be reliable or complete.
This is where the pain of dealing with a suicidal loved-one kicks in: you don't know what they were thinking. You can only fill in the gaps: they were happy all of a sudden, etc.