Narcissistic crises of aging and suicidal despair.

After reviewing some of the dangers inherent in oversimplifying the nature of suicide for public education purposes, a model (the "wedding-cake model") of elderly suicide is outlined. This model is derived from a community-based psychological autopsy study. It is hypothesized that elderly persons who die by suicide have a lifelong character fault that remains invisible until aging life-changes force the issue into the open.