Suicide in the elderly: general characteristics.

In this article, general characteristics of suicide in the elderly are discussed. They have the highest suicide rate of any age group, are more determined to die, use "harder" methods, and seem less prone to communicate their suicidal intentions. Furthermore, it seems from recent research that the attitude toward suicide becomes more negative (i.e. no probability of suicide committed by oneself) with increasing age, but at the age of 55 men's attitudes remain negative whereas women's become positive. Approximately at the age of 65 we can see the reverse. The particular factors affecting suicide in old age, such as retirement, relocation, social support, bereavement, depression, hopelessness, mental disorders, and alcohol abuse are described. Physical illness, especially attendant on depression and feelings of hopelessness, also plays an important role.