TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2006//
TI  - Suicide in our elders : A 10-year review of Kentucky medical examiner cases
JO  - Forensic science, medicine, and pathology
A1  - Shields, Lisa B. E.
A1  - Hunsaker, Donna M.
A1  - Hunsaker, John C.
SP  - 253
EP  - 262
VL  - 2
IS  - 4
N2  - The suicide rate in the United States is consistently higher in the elderly (>-65 years) than among younger cohorts, reaching approx 5500 deaths in 2002. In this article, we present a 10-year (1993-2002) retrospective review of 348 Kentucky medical examiner cases ascribed to suicide between 65 and 96 years. Most victims were males (86.8%) and Caucasian (98.9%). The predominant cause of death was firearm injury (80.7%), followed by hanging (4.9%) and overdose (4.3%). The pervasiveness of elderly suicide by firearm requires a multidisciplinary approach to the recognition of indicators and the development of strategies for treatment and prevention of suicide in at-risk elders.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 1547-769X
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1385/FSMP:2:4:253
ID  - ref1
ER  -