Suicide in the Elderly Population

Abstract

Back to table of contents previous chapternext chapter No AccessChapter 20.Suicide in the Elderly PopulationEdited by:Marilyn Price, M.D.Search for more papers by this author, Pamela Howard, M.D., M.B.A.Search for more papers by this authorhttps://doi.org/10.1176/appi.books.9781615375288.lg20AboutSectionsView chapterExcerptView Full Text ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack Citations ShareShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InEmail View chapterSectionsEpidemiology | Risk Factors for Suicide in Older Adults | Psychiatric Illness | Psychological Factors | Physical Illness | Social Factors | Environmental Factors | Management of Suicide Risk | Conclusion | ReferencesExcerptSuicide has ranked as the tenth leading cause of death in the United States for all ages since 2008 (Hedegaard et al. 2018). The risk of suicide in the elderly is substantial; suicide was the sixteenth leading cause of death for persons over the age of 65 (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2018). An average of one older adult (> 65 years of age) dies from suicide every 1 hour and 4 minutes (Drapeau and McIntosh 2017). Older adults face many challenges that increase suicide risk, including psychiatric disorders, physical ailments, neurocognitive decline, financial stressors, retirement, advancing age associated with diminished functional capacity, death of partner/spouse, and the loss of social networks. Suicide risk assessment (SRA) using evidence-based risk and protective factors can identify older adults at low, moderate, or high risk to allow for timely and effective intervention. Access content To read the fulltext, please use one of the options below to sign in or purchase access. Personal login Institutional Login Sign in via OpenAthens Please login/register if you wish to pair your device and check access availability. Not a subscriber? Subscribe Now / Learn More PsychiatryOnline subscription options offer access to the DSM-5 library, books, journals, CME, and patient resources. This all-in-one virtual library provides psychiatrists and mental health professionals with key resources for diagnosis, treatment, research, and professional development. Need more help? PsychiatryOnline Customer Service may be reached by emailing [email protected] or by calling 800-368-5777 (in the U.S.) or 703-907-7322 (outside the U.S.). FiguresReferencesCited byDetailsCited byNone The American Psychiatric Association Publishing Textbook of Suicide Risk Assessment and Management Information©American Psychiatric Association Publishing History Published online 18 April 2023 Published in print 8 January 2020