By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    improving patient experience
    6 Ways to Improve Patient Satisfaction Within Hospitals
    December 1, 2021
    degree for healthcare job
    What Are The Health Benefits Of Having A Degree?
    March 9, 2022
    custom software development is changing healthcare
    Digital Customer Journey Mapping and its Importance for Healthcare
    July 21, 2022
    Latest News
    Grounded Healing: A Natural Ally for Sustainable Healthcare Systems
    May 16, 2025
    Learn how to Renew your Medical Card in West Virginia
    May 16, 2025
    Choosing the Right Supplement Manufacturer for Your Brand
    May 1, 2025
    Engineering Temporary Hospitals for Extreme Weather
    April 24, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    Can Thinking Younger Make You Live Longer?
    April 20, 2011
    Image
    Obesity’s Outlook Unchanged
    June 13, 2011
    When It’s An Emergency Elderly Not Treated As Well in Hospitals
    July 16, 2011
    Latest News
    Building Smarter Care Teams: Aligning Roles, Structure, and Clinical Expertise
    May 18, 2025
    The Critical Role of Healthcare in Personal Injury Recovery: A Comprehensive Guide for Victims
    May 14, 2025
    The Backbone of Successful Trials: Clinical Data Management
    April 28, 2025
    Advancing Your Healthcare Career through Education and Specialization
    April 16, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Suicide in the Elderly: A Story in Statistics (in time for World Suicide Prevention Day)
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Specialties > Geriatrics > Suicide in the Elderly: A Story in Statistics (in time for World Suicide Prevention Day)
GeriatricsNews

Suicide in the Elderly: A Story in Statistics (in time for World Suicide Prevention Day)

Rhona Finkel
Last updated: September 8, 2012 8:29 am
Rhona Finkel
Share
4 Min Read
SHARE

In time for World Suicide Prevention Day on September 10, 2012, let’s do some myth-busting.

Although they don’t seem like likely candidates, and although the myth persists that suicide is most common among the young, the elderly have the highest suicide rates of any age group.

Even though in 2006 the elderly (we’re starting with 65+ here) made up  12.5% of the population, they accounted for almost 15.9% of all suicides.

In time for World Suicide Prevention Day on September 10, 2012, let’s do some myth-busting.

More Read

Dad and JJ in Paris
Timing of Meals Affects Weight Loss
Striking Physicians in UK Express Anger at Government Balk over Pensions
Midwifery Training: The Whats and Hows of Birthing Simulators
Gun Law Reform Should Not Require Medical Records
4 Natural Remedies to Help You Sleep

Although they don’t seem like likely candidates, and although the myth persists that suicide is most common among the young, the elderly have the highest suicide rates of any age group.

Even though in 2006 the elderly (we’re starting with 65+ here) made up  12.5% of the population, they accounted for almost 15.9% of all suicides.

The rates begin to increase in a group rather endearingly referred to as the ‘young-old,’ ages 65-85, and continues to increase among the (what else?) ‘old-old,’ at 85+

White men over 85 are the greatest risk of  all age-gender-race groups. In 2006 their suicide rate was 2.5 times the rate for men of all ages, and was six times that of the general population.

Take a look at the following infographic to help you get your head around these numbers–and let’s come back to why the statistics might be so startling.

 

 

Fairly alarming, no?

And in terms of those statistics under epidemiology? 15 suicides a day adds up to 5,475 a year. But the numbers were even higher in 2010, with a total of six to ten thousand committing suicide yearly (still mostly with firearms).

And about the completed vs. attempted suicides, the ratio that’s one in 4 for the elderly? In the U.S. it’s 1:25 in the general population (MCIntosh, 1997).

Here’s a (rather dated, but still, unfortunately, accurate) graph of suicide rates per age from all countries reporting to the World Health Organization.

It doesn’t take a course in analyzing trends to realize it’s bad news.

Suicide Rates Per Age and Gender, WHO 1990

 

So the question becomes. . .why? WHY are suicide rates so high–and so consistently high, for so many years–among the elderly as compared to the general population?

Perhaps the most significant cause of suicide in the elderly is undiagnosed and untreated depression, but there are a number of other risk factors, as well:

  • Recent death of a loved one
  • Physical illness or disability
  • Major life changes (e.g. retirement, divorce–Suicide rates among the elderly are highest for those who are divorced or widowed.)
  • Loss of independence
  • Isolation

A short but strong piece in the New York Times entitled “Preventing suicide among the elderly” runs through the major ways that others can act to prevent suicide in the elderly, including pushing for more aggressive treatment for depression, be attentive to heavy drinking, to signs of isolation, to a sense of loss of purpose among the older person, to their response to illness and crippling pain.

Other articles with suggestions for prevention:

  • “Forget me not: preventing suicide among the elderly“
  • “Suicide Prevention in the Elderly “by the Area Agency on Aging
  •  ELDER SUICIDE PREVENTION, A REVIEW OF BEST PRACTICES AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR STATE INITIATIVES IN MAINE

It pays to take a look, and to spend some times thinking about suicide prevention for the elderly.

For not one of us wants our grandparents, parents, spouses or friends to become another statistics, a point on a graph, a percentage in orange on an infographic.

TAGGED:suicide
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

Clinical Expertise
Building Smarter Care Teams: Aligning Roles, Structure, and Clinical Expertise
Health care
May 18, 2025
Grounded Healing: A Natural Ally for Sustainable Healthcare Systems
Grounded Healing: A Natural Ally for Sustainable Healthcare Systems
Health
May 15, 2025
Learn how to Renew your Medical Card in West Virginia
Learn how to Renew your Medical Card in West Virginia
Health
May 15, 2025
Dr. Klaus Rentrop Shares Acute Myocardial Infarction heart treatment
Dr. Klaus Rentrop Shares Acute Myocardial Infarction
Cardiology
May 13, 2025

You Might also Like

The Most Effective Ways to Manage and Prevent UTIs in the Elderly

August 29, 2013

Scientists in Japan Use Stem Cells to Grow Hair on Bald Mouse

April 20, 2012
healthy feet
News

5 Easy Ways To Keep Your Feet Healthy At Home

April 6, 2021
cerebral palsy
Health careNews

Ulzhan Tolyshbay on the Study of Cerebral Palsy

December 28, 2023
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?