This study examined the following among the elderly in England & Wales: recent trends in the suicide rate; recent trends in methods; the relationship between population size & suicide rate in recent years; & the gender difference in overall & method-specific suicide rate. Mortality data for 1985-1996 was studied. Findings indicate there is a trend towards decline in the overall pure & combined suicide rates for the elderly. Overall pure & combined suicide rates & that for most categories of suicide was higher in men compared to woemn. Suicide rates decreased with an increase in the elderly population size. (27 refs.)