Suicide in the elderly.
Suicide is a major public health problem, with rates rising to their highest levels in many countries and cultures during the second half of life. The risk factors that contribute to later-life suicide are distinctive from those in younger populations. This paper reviews a variety of potential approaches for effective suicide prevention among elders, and considers as well both age-specific and general barriers that impede such efforts. It proposes that future effective measures will need to integrate public health and individual-oriented therapeutic approaches to intervention, and that specific efforts will need to be developed to address the natural history of suicidal processes.
Caine
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ED
University of Rochester Medical Center, New York 14642-8409, USA. eric_caine@urmc.rochester.edu
Conwell
Y
Y
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010348:Patient Care Team; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000092864:Suicide Prevention