Executive Summary: Attitude and Incidence of Suicide Among the Elderly

The Gallup Organization & Empire Blue Cross conducted a study of older Americans on the issues of suicide & conditions thought to be related to suicide. 802 individuals, aged 60+, completed a telephone survey. Almost one-third of respondents indicated that loneliness was a major reason the elderly would talk about or consider suicide. 6% of the sample knew of someone who had tried to commit suicide while 1% of the sample reported they had thought about committing suicide in the last 6 months.