Suicide at Symbolic Ages: Death on Stocktaking Occasions (IN: Life Span Perspectives of Suicide: Time-Lines in the Suicide Process, ed. by A A Leenaars)

This study assesses the psychological consequences of reaching symbolic ages like 40, 65 & 70. The authors find that suicide rates display noticeable peaks at almost all symbolic ages. The authors speculate that perhaps this is because people “take stock” of their lives, & the goals they have or have not achieved at these ages.