title: A systematic review of elderly suicide prevention programs.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Suicide rates are highest among the elderly, yet research on suicide prevention in old age remains a much-neglected area.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We carried out a systematic review to examine the results of interventions aimed at suicidal elderly persons and to identify successful strategies and areas needing further exploration.
  
  
  METHODS
  Searches through various electronic databases yielded 19 studies with an empirical evaluation of a suicide prevention or intervention program designed especially for adults aged 60 years and older.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most studies were centered on the reduction of risk factors (depression screening and treatment, and decreasing isolation), but when gender was considered, programs were mostly efficient for women. The empirical evaluations of programs attending to the needs of high-risk older adults seemed positive; most studies showed a reduction in the level of suicidal ideation of patients or in the suicide rate of the participating communities. However, not all studies used measures of suicidality to evaluate the outcome of the intervention, and rarely did they aim at improving protective factors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Innovative strategies should improve resilience and positive aging, engage family and community gatekeepers, use telecommunications to reach vulnerable older adult, and evaluate the effects of means restriction and physicians education on elderly suicide.
authors: Department of Psychology, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Québec, Canada. sylvie.lapierre@uqtr.ca
authors: Sylvie
authors: S
authors: Lapierre
authors: Annette
authors: A
authors: Erlangsen
authors: Margda
authors: M
authors: Waern
authors: Diego
authors: D
authors: De Leo
authors: Hirofumi
authors: H
authors: Oyama
authors: Paolo
authors: P
authors: Scocco
authors: Joseph
authors: J
authors: Gallo
authors: Katalin
authors: K
authors: Szanto
authors: Yeates
authors: Y
authors: Conwell
authors: Brian
authors: B
authors: Draper
authors: Paul
authors: P
authors: Quinnett
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