Management of suicidal behavior in the elderly.

Suicidal behavior in older people is more often lethal than in any other age group. Social isolation, losses and physical illness, a past history of suicide attempts, and psychiatric illness are risk factors with implications for prevention of late life suicide. Preliminary indications are that community outreach to elders at risk and educational programs for primary care providers on the identification and treatment of late life depression are effective at lowering suicide rates.