pt. 1. Buried above ground: an introduction to suicide
ch. 1. Death lies near at hand: history and overview
ch. 2. To measure the heart's turbulence: definitions and magnitudes
Essay: this life, this death
pt. 2. Just hope has gone: psychology and psychopathology
ch. 3. Take off the amber, put out the lamp: the psychology of suicide
ch. 4. Burden of despair: psychopathology and suicide
ch. 5. What matters it, if rope or garter: methods and places
Essay: the lion enclosure
pt. 3. Pangs of nature, taints of blood: the biology of suicide
ch. 6. Plunge into deep waters: genetic and evolutionary perspectives
ch. 7. Death-blood: neurobiology and neuropathology
Essay: the colouring to events: the death of Meriwether Lewis
pt. 4. Building against death: prevention of suicide
ch. 8. Modest magical qualities: treatment and prevention
ch. 9. As a society: the public health
ch. 10. Half-stitched scar: those left behind.