Growing Rate Of Suicides Among Senior Citizens

Statistics on Senior Suicide

* Most Americans are unaware of the high rate of suicide among senior citizens, and researchers at the University of Iowa College of Medicine have issued a wake-up call for the elderly, their families, caregivers, and physicians. Although older Americans make up about 13 percent of the population, they account for nearly 20 percent of all suicides. An estimated five million of the 32 million people 65 and older suffer from depression. They are a more determined group to act and they use more lethal methods.
(http://depression.about.com/od/drugsalcohol/a/alcoholanddep_2.htm)

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* Although older adults attempt suicide less often than other age groups, they are more likely to die from the attempt. The suicide rate is highest for adults 75 years of age and older.

(http://www.trumbull211.org/awarenessprevention.asp)

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* There is one senior adult suicide every 99 minutes.

 84% of senior adult suicides are men.

  The suicide rate is highest for adults 75 years of age and older.

  Only a fraction (2-4%) of suicide victims have been diagnosed with a terminal illness at the time of their death.

  As many as 75% of depressed older Americans are not receiving proper mental health treatment, placing them at an increased rate of suicide.
(http://www.trumbull211.org/awarenessprevention.asp)

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* In Orange County California, 57 people over the age of 65 died by suicide in 2010. These suicides account for 23% of the county's self-inflicted deaths for the year.

In 90% of suicide cases involving people over the age of 65, psychological autopsies show clinical depression, said Charles Reynolds, an aging expert with the University of Pittsburgh.

(http://articles.latimes.com/2011/jan/18/local/la-me-elderly-suicides-20110118)

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* The National Institute of Mental Health reported the most recent U. S. suicide rate within the general population as 10.9 per 100,000, while the rate of those aged 65 years and older is 14.3 per 100,000.

(http://www.urbanhousecallmagazine.com/unmasking-suicide-rates-in-the-elderly/)

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If you or someone you know is considering suicide, immediately call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255). 

For additional information on aging issues including locating eldercare, contact the Administration on Aging at 1-202-619-0724 or 1-800-677-1116.

Statistics were gathered from the website links placed below each statistic.

Statistics posted are accurate as of the year the article was printed.

Photograph from Google Images.