Demography and the Theoretical Foundations of Elderly Suicide (IN: Preventing Elderly Suicide: Overcoming Personal Despair, Professional Neglect, and Social Bias, by J Richman)

This introductory chapter discusses the meaning & theoretical rationale of major demographic, epidemiological, & recognition signs of suicidal behaviour. Family risk factors, biomedical aspects, social cohesion versus alienation, & psychological aspects are discussed. A clinical overview of indicators discusses: depression, paranoia, social isolation, help rejection, alcoholism, unremitting pain, loss, major illness, & crisis in self & others. Recovery factors are outlined.