It has not been made clear whether or not self-esteem is associated with the severity of suicidal behavior. To examine this notion, the association between responses to a self-esteem inventory and a theoretical gradient of suicidal intent, called the suicidal process, was examined. The suicidal process describes increasing levels of suicidal intent as beginning with thoughts of death (death wishes) and moving through ideation (thoughts of taking one’s own life), making a suicide plan, and then actually making a suicide attempt. 
   A questionnaire was constructed with items from the Battle Self-Esteem Inventory and questions pertaining to the levels of the suicidal process and administered to 227 university students.
   A drop in self-esteem was associated with increased seriousness of suicidal behaviour, with fewer cases appearing in each succeeding level of intent. Nearly all cases from any particular level also showed suicidal behavior at a less serious level.
    This points to a probable progression through each of the stages of suicidality, with very few cases showing a level of suicidal behavior that was not associated with a previous, less serious, form. This suggests the likelihood that it is only those who have expressed a death wish that are at risk for more serious levels of suicidality. It can be further hypothesized that early entry into the suicidal process may be indicated by low self-esteem, thus, allowing for a more timely preventive intervention.