One low economic status social area and one high economic status social area population were selected for intensive study in the manner suggested by Shevky and Bell. In order to determine the frequency of suicide ideation and suicide related experiences among these social area types, five interdependent questions were asked: (1) Have you ever wondered what it would be like not to exist? (2) Have you ever experienced a strong urge toward suicide? (3) Have you ever contemplated suicide seriously as a solution to a problem? (4) At any time, have you ever actually threatened suicide? (5) At any time, have you ever actually attempted suicide? The term "suicide-related experience" refers to experiences wherein a person has actually thought of committing suicide. The major finding is that suicide ideation and experiences are very common in both social area populations, but more so in the low economic status social area. The frequency of thoughts and threats of suicide in the high economic status social area was surprising, given the fact that the suicide and attempted suicide rate for this population was reported as low. The data also indicated that the suicide ideations and experiences identified in the social area samples relate to completed suicide as part of a process. (Author)