Reflections on jokes and cartoons about suicide.

This article is intended to engage others in a dialogue about the role and meaning of jokes about suicide. Types of jokes involving suicide are examined to distinguish the different types of humor involved. A sample of 118 recent political cartoons in an online website was downloaded, of which 73 concerned suicide bombers. Examples of suicide cartons and jokes involving disparagement, incongruity, repression, and ridiculousness are provided. Although in some contexts, such as suicidal terrorism, these themes may be appropriate, a few cartons and jokes that addressed ordinary suicidal individuals were often hostile.