[Suicide among the elderly in the county of Arhus. A 10-year retrospective study of suicide among persons aged 65 and over].
During a ten year period (1983 to 1992) 337 suicides (188 men and 149 women) were registered among people over 65 years of age in the county of Aarhus. The suicide rate (number of deaths per 100,000 living people) decreased during the period from 1983 to 1990. For men the rate was highest over the age of 80, whereas for women the rate was highest before the age of 70. The analyses showed, that the majority of the suicides were committed with violent methods. Previous attempts were registered in 25%. The decision to commit suicide was not associated with health conditions. The percentage of suicide victims living in nursing-homes was slightly higher than that of the background population. In 25% of the 116 suicides a farewell letter was found, despondency was slated as the main cause - not painful or incurable diseases. Prevention of suicide among elderly people is not clarified in this study.
Kristensen
I B
IB
Aarhus Universitet, Retsmedicinsk Institut.
Nielsen
K R
KR
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013405:Suicide / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*