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Loading...One Problem Goes Unnoticed: Suicide Among The Elderly
While suicide among teenagers is often given a high profile in the media, the issue of suicide among older adults and the elderly often goes under-reported. How big is the problem and how can you help?
Suicide Among Older Adults: The Statistics
The most recent statistics based on 2009 data from the American Association of Suicidology shows that even though the elderly — defined as people age 65 and over — make up only 12.9 percent of the population, they account for almost 15.9 percent of all suicides. To put this in perspective, the rate of suicide among the elderly in 2009 was 14.8 per 100,000 or one elder suicide every 90 minutes, nearly 16 every day and a total of 5,858 suicides among those 65 and older.
In terms of demographics, men are much more likely to take their own lives. Figures show that in 2009, 84.4 percent of elder suicides were male, 5.4 times greater than the rate of female suicides. It should be noted that this isn’t as surprising as it might first appear, since the rate of suicide for women has long been known to decline after age 60 as women in fact suffer an at-risk peak in what is known as “middle adulthood,” ages 45-49.
While all racial groups show a high prevalence of elder male suicide, the segment of the male population most likely to take their own lives is elderly white men, with a rate of approximately 31.2 suicides per 100,000 each year. White men over the age of 85 are the greatest risk, with 2009′s statistics showing the suicide rate for these men to be 45.6 per 100,000. Again, to put that in context it works out at a rate 2.4 times higher than the current rate for men of all ages, which stands at 19.2 per 100,000.
Another important thing to note is that older adults attempt suicide less frequently than other groups however the elderly have a dramatically higher mortality rate — they also often have ready access to firearms and prescription drugs, the two leading methods of suicide for the demographic.
When combining all ages there is an estimated 1 suicide for every 100-200 attempts. However, beyond the age of 65 there is one estimated suicide for every 4 attempted suicides.
For a full breakdown of the statistics please click here.
Why Do Older Adults Commit Suicide?
There is no one factor that causes someone to commit suicide, however there are a number issues.
The biggest commonality in older adults is clinical depression. Many see depression as an inevitable part of getting older as one copes with declining health and the loss of loved ones. However, while feeling “down” is normal, clinical depression at any age is not. It is medically treatable and should not just be accepted, something that doctors are very keen to stress.
Common risk factors surrounding elder suicide include:
- The recent death of a spouse, family member or friend
- Illness
- The fear of a prolonged illness
- Social isolation and feelings of loneliness
- Major life changes, particularly retirement
Common suicide warning signs in an older adult include (but are not limited to):
- Insomnia
- Weight loss
- Feelings of guilt
- Feelings of purposelessness
- Feelings of being a burden
- Dramatic changes in regular routines
- Refusing social activities
- Giving away prized possessions
Below is a video chronicling one elder woman’s battle with depression after she and her family took the decision to place her spouse in a care facility that could better manage his medical needs, leaving her feeling vulnerable and isolated:
How to Help an At-Risk Older Adult and Prevent Suicide
Many of the ways discussed in how to prevent suicide among teenagers is also applicable to older adults. However there are some things that are particularly relevant to older adults. They include:
Intervention — Acting on clues in changes in personality, behaviors and routines; talking honestly with the adult about their feelings of depression; ensuring the older adult sees a medical professional.
Maintaining — Helping the at-risk individual maintain their medical intervention, whether by driving them to health appointments or ensuring they are adhering to prescribed treatments, whether in the form of prescription drugs, psychotherapy or other methods, that will enable them to combat their depression.
Socializing — Many older adults become isolated as their medical needs increase and their circle of friends grows smaller; it is vital to stave off general feelings of depression by ensuring that older adults are able to live their lives to the fullest extent, including being able to contribute to the community they live in. Take time to ensure they have an engaging social calendar and are able to indulge in interests they are passionate about.
In terms of actual medical treatments, anti-depressants and in some cases psychotherapy have been shown to be beneficial, though a doctor will be able to tailor a treatment program to the elderly patient’s particular needs.
As to what might help the problem of properly addressing older adult and elderly suicides, a frank and open discussion that doesn’t treat our elder population as an afterthought is a must. Also, a medical system that does not price elderly people out of receiving the treatments they need to continue living their lives to the fullest surely must be a priority, including ensuring that elder care facilities are well funded, regulated and staffed.
Related Reading:
5 Teens Speak Out About Suicide (Video Slideshow)
Army Suicide Numbers – on the rise
Suicide Contagion Effect: Traditional Media and Social Media
Read more: care for the elderly, elder issues, elderly, elderly care, national suicide prevention week, older adult suicide, older adults suicide risk, suicide prevention
Image used under the Creative Commons Attribution License with thanks to bravenewtraveler.
Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may
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Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.
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+ add your ownit's a sad but true fact, wherever you are in the world.
i'm a tutor of the 'chronic disease self management programme' course which was pioneered in the us. in it, we look at various ways to deal with the effects of our conditions, about planning for the future [such as living wills and lasting power of attorney] and the ways everything feeds in, making the condition or individual symptoms worse. look it up for yourself. as part of my training, we looked at mental health first aid and that was really interesting. how different people see things and why, what to do if you find yourself in these situations where someone is contemplating suicide and how you can work effectively in the community with this knowledge.
unfortunately, as mentioned in many comments, the use of suicide is because there are many laws in a lot of countries that do NOT allow for 'legalised suicide', so people have to either go abroad to do it, or do it themselves at home. this is a part that ALL governments should look at, with compassion towards those considering it. the reader, TERRY PRATCHETT did an informative and emotive short series about his battle with alzheimer's and visited people in switzerland who were legally ending their life as he is contemplating this. why should people have to travel, or others being implicated for manslaughter if that is the true wish of the individual?
finally, i had to laugh, that there is an "american association of suicidology" make sure you read it correct
Wow what an amazing statistic but I am inclined to believe it. Sadly the elderly lose a partner and if they were close they feel so isolated, lonely and alone. No children also gets the elderly as well and also people who arent well therefore they dont have a good network of friends or they dont drive or people arent interested in getting to know them. All in all the feeling of isolation and no validation can put immense stress on the elderly when they lives dont have a wide periphery.
A senior suicide every 90 minutes? This is unacceptable. If RoMoney/LyinRyan steal the election, it will be a senior suicide every 90 seconds, when they destroy Medicare, and cut social security.
so very extremely sad :/
"When combining all ages there is an estimated 1 suicide for every 100-200 attempts. However, beyond the age of 65 there is one estimated suicide for every 4 attempted suicides."
See - we're smarter!
Many of the drugs the elderly are put on cause other problems, (especially regarding potential effects of multiple drugs mingling) and depression/confusion is an appallingly common side effect that then typically becomes treated with other drugs, even when the depression-causing drug is an off-label use of something not necessary or even not to be given to that gender.
Becoming caregiver of my mother really brought the problem home for me, and I'm so sorry for elderly, more vulnerable people with no-one to research their drugs and demand less damaging alternatives or have them taken off drugs almost any other doctor but a few prescribing wildly will agree are contra-indicated or not required.
I would say that the medications that person is taking, and has recently taken, (as some can linger and foul up their systems for months, even years, or permanently, after even a short run,) should be considered as one of the first things to check in the case of depression or confusion which appears/worsens after starting any new medication, even where loneliness and poverty are also factors.
Frankly, being poor, lonely and old is enough on its own without adding more misery.
I imagine this is good news for Romney and Ryan. Thank of the money this will save. We know they don't care about at least 47% of us.
@Leen K your comment that
Suicide will never take away any pain & does not solve any problem is beyond stupid. Obviously you are either young or extremely healthy.
This is what my life is like. I wake up everyday in pain...when I sleep I dream that rats are chewing my body or that I'm on a rack or otherwise being tortured....when I go to sleep I'm in pain. Every step I take is pain ridden and there is no part of my body that doesn't hurt.
I have an idea. Take some pebbles and put them in both shoes. Walk the entire day like that and see how you feel at the end of the day. Then have someone whack you with a board several times on your legs, your torso and your arms. Now have someone stick needles in your body parts.Then tell me how you feel. If there is a God why would God continue to torture someone who's dead? Death ends this journey and then we start another one.
And sweetie if you think EVERYONE loves you you have no understanding of human beings.
I suppose that everyone loving me allowed MY government to poison me while I and others were serving our country. I suppose the men that raped me while I was in the Army "loved me".
It must be nice to believe that everyone loves everyone else. I suppose Romney loves the 47% of the population he's not going to represent if elected. Girl grow up...if you don't someone is going to take advantage of your innocent views.
The Hemlock society has published books and has a website for those who want to take their own life. I think though you should have to be of legal age to get into the site.
I am 66 now, and have known since I was a young adult that I would die by my own hand (unless something doesn't suddenly get me first). It is not morbid, it is just a fact; when my life reaches a point where suffering is the dominant theme, I will get out of Dodge.
A helpful hint; if one decides to overdose on medication, take an anti-nausea medication first. Real attempts at suicide using medication usually fail because the body will vomit up the drug. Then the problem is not only that it didn't work, but that there is quite often organ damage, which just adds to the original reason for the suicide in the first place.
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