Suicide in the Elderly (IN: The Harvard Medical School Guide to Suicide Assessment and Intervention, edited by D G Jacobs)

It is assumed in this chapter that most suicides in the elderly are preventable tragedies. After providing a historical context, the epidemiology of suicide in the elderly, its risk factors & consequences are reviewed. The clinical management of suicide in the elderly is then discussed, including assessment, prevention, crisis intervention, & working with family & loved ones when a suicide occurs. The chapter concludes with a discussion of the societal & ethical implications of elderly suicide.