Gender is one of the most important predictors of suicide in the elderly. So far, suicidologists have either ignored gender differences or have focused on the presumed causes of older men’s suicidal behaviour. In this paper, the focus is on older women’s low rates of suicidal mortality. On the basis of a literature review, several hypotheses are suggested. One is that gender differences in suicide mortality reflect differences in coping. Directions for prevention are proposed. (65 refs.)