This document discusses elder suicide, including statistics, risk factors, and warning signs. It notes that elders account for one-fifth of suicides despite being only 12% of the population. Leading risk factors for elder suicide include depression, chronic illness, loss of a spouse, and loss of independence. Warning signs that indicate serious risk are losing interest in activities, social withdrawal, stopping medical regimens, and giving away possessions. Preventing elder suicide requires sensitivity to their issues and ensuring social support and treatment of depression.

2. •Introduction
•The causes
•The key risk factors of elder suicide
•The warning signs
•U.S. Suicide Statistics
•Conclusion

3. • Someone age 65 or over completes suicide
every 90 minutes -- 16 deaths a day. Elders
account for one-fifth of all suicides, but only
12% of the population. White males over age
85 are at the highest risk and complete suicide
at almost six times the national average. The
suicide rate among elders is two to three
times higher than in younger age groups.
Elder suicide may be under-reported 40% or
more.

4. Elder suicide is associated with depression and
factors causing depression, e.g., chronic
illness, physical impairment, unrelieved pain,
financial stress, loss and grief, social isolation,
and alcoholism. Depression is tied to low
serotonin levels.

5. • Loss of spouse.
• A late onset depressive disorder.
• A debilitating and/or terminal illness.
• Severe chronic/intractable pain.
• Decreasing independence and self-
sufficiency.
• Decreased socialization and social supports.

6. • The following may indicate serious risk:
• Loss of interest in things or activities that are usually found
enjoyable
• Cutting back social interaction, self-care, and grooming.
• Breaking medical regimens (e.g., going off diets,
prescriptions)
• Experiencing or expecting a significant personal loss (e.g.,
spouse)
• Feeling hopeless and/or worthless ("Who needs me?").
• Putting affairs in order, giving things away, or making
changes in wills.
• Stock-piling medication or obtaining other lethal means.

7. • Social: reduced social networks, loneliness,
bereavement, poverty, physical ill health
• Psychological: low self-esteem, lack of
capacity for intimacy, physical ill health
• Biological: neuronal loss/neurotransmitter
loss, genetic risk, physical ill health

8. • Breakdown by Gender / Ethnicity / Young, Old Age Groups
• Rate Per Number Per Day 100,000 % of Deaths
Total ................30,622............83.9........10.8..........1.3 Males
..............24,672...........67.6.........17.6...........2.1
Females..............5,950...........16.3..........4.1...........0.5
Whites..............27,710...........75.9.........11.9..........1.3
Nonwhites..........2,912.............8.0..........5.6...........0.9
Blacks.................1,957.............5.4...........5.3..........0.7
• Elderly (65+ yrs.) .5,393..........14.8..........15.3.........0.3
• Young (15-24 yrs.).3,971.........10.9............9.9........12.3

9. Further Breakdown by Gender / Ethnicity
Rate Per Group # of Suicides 100,000
• White Male............22,328.......................19.5
• White Female ..........5,382........................4.6
• Nonwhite Male ........2,344........................9.3
• Nonwhite Female ........568.......................2.1
• Black Male .................1,627......................9.2
• Black Female.................330......................1.7
• Hispanic......................1,850.....................5.0

10. U.S. Suicide Statistics by Suicide
Methods

11. Suicide affect us all
• Senior suicides are
expected to swell in
coming years as baby
boomers reach old age

12. Increasingly, workers in the mental health field, especially
counselors and therapists. to combat suicide –through
prevention programs, and teaching those prevention
programs to everyone who interacts with the older
individuals requires increased sensitivity to issues that they
confront daily.
A support system among those who provide follow-up care
became especially important since suppression of suicidal
ideation may take up to 12 weeks before thoughts dissipate.
Respect, consideration, and company should be one
important treatment to help them.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyFFQ0xRWsM

13. • Isabel Carrasco Publicado el miércoles 12 de noviembre 2008.
• Recobrado Diciembre 02/2012 de:
• http://www.cinteco.com/profesionales/2008/11/12/conducta-suicidada-
en-la-personas- mayores/
• E. García de Jalón, V. Peralta
• Unidad de Psiquiatría. Hospital Virgen del Camino. Pamplona
• Recobrado Diciembre 02/2012 de:
• Carlos José Parales- Elisa Dulce y-Ruiz Revista LatinoAmericana de
Psicología (centro de psicología gerontología 2002) recobrado en
noviembre 20, 2012
• http://www.cfnavarra.es/salud/anales/textos/vol25/sup3/suple7a.html
• http://www.who.int/mental_health/prevention/suicide/resource_respond
ers_spanish.df
• http://www.suicidioprevencion.com/pdf