We studied suicide in the Canary Islands between 1977 and 1983 and found 775 cases, twice the official number of 381. This indicates the lack of validity and reliability of official figures for suicide in Spain today. The figures reveal an upward trend in the Canary Islands, with the annual rate of 6.81 per 100,000 in 1977 having increased to 10.64 per 100,000 in 1983. There were no significant differences in the frequency of suicide according to season, month or day of the week.