Citation

McIntosh JL. Suicide Life Threat. Behav. 1992; 22(1): 15-35.

Affiliation

Department of Psychology, Indiana University, South Bend 46634.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1992, American Association of Suicidology, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

1579984

Abstract

Suicide rates in the United States and most other countries are higher among the elderly than among the population as a whole. Typically, rates peak in older adulthood. Epidemiological data for the current levels and trends in suicide among the elderly are presented with a focus on United States figures. Age, sex, race, marital status, and methods of suicide as factors in suicide among the old are detailed, followed by a discussion of past trends and future predictions of changes in elderly suicide rates. In addition to fatal suicidal behaviors, the data and literatures on parasuicide and survivors of elderly suicide are briefly noted.