Sociodemographic Predictors of Firearm Suicide Among Older White Males

Compared to women, younger males, and other racial/ethnic groups in the United States, white males 65 and over have the highest suicide rates, 42.7 per 100,000. Using the Mortality Detail Files (1989-1991), this study examined the socidemographic factors associated with late life firearm (vs. other methods) suicide among white males. Of the 14,887 cases of suicide among elderly white males, 77% were committed with firearms and 23% with other methods.