Suicide, Older Adulthood (IN: Encyclopedia of Primary Prevention and Health Promotion, edited by M Bloom and Gullotta)

This encyclopedia entry considers suicide & its prevention in persons over 65. A definition of the problem & related statistics for this age group are presented. Relevant theories about causes of elderly suicide are discussed. Strategies for prevention are described in terms of levels of efficacy: those that do work, those that might work, & those that do not work. Emphasis is placed on the need to dispel the popular myth that characterizes suicide as a phenomenon of youth, as well as the need to target high risk groups, such as elderly men. (13 refs)