Experts: Suicide more prevalent in elder population

The Sentinel & Enterprise

The recent suicide death of a 78-year-old man in Leominster, MA has drawn attention to the high incidence of suicide among seniors nationwide. (Men over 85 have the highest rate of suicide of any age group in the United States.) Experts note that as with other age groups, isolation and depression are factors that can contribute to suicidality, and say that it is important for caregivers to become more alert to signs of these conditions in elders. Yeates Conwell, co-director for the Center for the Study and Prevention of Suicide at the University of Rochester in New York, warned against oversimplifying the complex issue of elder suicide. He pointed out that according to surveys, older people tend to show higher rates of happiness than younger people, in spite of the physical and emotional challenges of aging. He noted that suicide “is a rare event, and not one thing adequately explains it.” In Massachusetts, the state department of public health funds an 8-hour training course to help caregivers and gatekeepers recognize and respond to warning signs for suicide among elders.

Spark Extras! Read Yeates Conwell’s 2012 guest Director’s Corner post: “Promoting Connectedness among Older Adults.” For data on suicide by age group (and other categories), see “USA Suicide: 2011 Official Final Data.”