1. Most Common Cause: Untreated Depression
Most (66 to 90 percent) of elderly suicide victims had at least one psychiatric diagnosis. The most common (two-thirds of the diagnosed individuals) diagnosis was clinical depression. It is estimated that over 75 percent of depressed Americans do not get the help they need. It is important to note that diagnosed depression and untreated or under-treated depression are different circumstances. It is important to continue to ask for and search out help for depression.
2. Men at Higher Risk
84 percent of elderly suicides in the United States were men. Elderly men face many changes as they age—the possible loss of a spouse, retirement, loss of independence, decrease in strength and stamina—that have the potential to contribute to depression. These men are also less likely to seek the help they need or be insistent upon it. This population is also at greater risk for using firearms.
3. Elderly Suicide Victims are in Good Health
Many people hold the misconception that elderly victims of suicide had been diagnosed with terminal illness as a precursor to their death. The truth is that two-thirds of elderly victims of suicide (aged in their late 60s, 70s and 80s) were in good physical health for their age when they died. The myth that the elderly take their own lives to avoid going through long, trying battles with terminal illness and disease such as cancer or Alzheimer’s disease is not true. Keep in mind that untreated depression can be chronic and is most often the cause of elderly suicide.
4. Elderly Suicide Attempts end in Death More Often
Other age groups actually attempt suicide more often than the elderly population. Elderly victims have a higher death rate from attempted suicide than do their younger counterparts. Between the ages of 15 and 24 there is one successful suicide attempt for every 100 to 200 tries. For the elderly, over the age of 65, there is one suicide for every four individuals who attempt to take their lives. These individuals are also less likely to reach out to crisis lines or other potential help centers than younger people with thoughts of suicide.
5. Many Factors Contribute
Although undiagnosed or untreated depression is a consistent contributing factor in elderly suicide, there are many factors that have an impact on an older individual’s choice to end their life. The loss of a loved one, fear of a prolonged illness or chronic pain, feeling like they are in ill-health can all impact a person’s feelings regarding life and the meaning of their own. Aging brings with it changes in a person’s role—retirement—that may significantly impact how they feel about themselves, or even bring about social isolation and loneliness if their employment was a noteworthy source of their companionship and recreation.
About this Author
Lara Alspaugh is a freelance writer living in Michigan. She is a Registered Nurse and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing from Michigan State University. Her writing has been found in parenting and fitness magazines nationwide and the Internet, addressing health and fitness as well as wellness concerns of families.
