Chapter
Suicide Across the Life Span With Particular Reference to the Elderly (IN: Now I lay me Down: Suicide in the Elderly, edited by D Lester & M Tallmer)
Leenaars A A
This chapter looks at how suicide methods & motives change with age. Predictive & differentiating variables found in suicide notes were reduced to 8 clusters of common patterns of suicide across the adult lifespan. 2 Clusters highlight older adult differences The elderly are more direct & are more aware of their reasons for killing themselves. Problems of establishing & maintaining relationships were more frequent in older males. Examples of suicide notes of older adults are provided. (58 Refs.)