Suicides Among Older Persons in Finland and Time Since Hospitalization Discharge

This study examined the timing of suicide among elderly & middle-aged persons after their final hospitalization & examined characteristics of suicides in relation to the timing of suicide. Data were examined for 370 Northern Finnish middle-aged (50-64 years) & 194 elderly (65 years or older) suicide victims. Compared with elderly persons whose suicide occurred more than 180 days after hospitalization or who had had no hospitalization, elderly persons who died by suicide within one week after hospitalization were more likely to have a history of hospital-treated psychiatric & alcohol-related disorders, depression, & were more likely to have been given a psychiatric diagnosis at their last hospitalization. Compared with elderly men, elderly women were more likely to die by suicide in the first month after hospital discharge. (15 refs.)