Suicide is a serious concern for older adults. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), suicide rates are particularly high among older men. Men aged 85 and older have the highest suicide rate of any group in the country. Suicide attempts by older adults are much more likely to result in death than among younger persons. The Suicide Prevention Center indicates this is because older adults plan more carefully, use more deadly methods, and are less likely to be discovered and rescued. Also, due to their physical frailty, older adults are less likely to recover from a suicide attempt.
Some risk factors which make older adults more likely to attempt suicide include depression and other mental health problems, substance abuse (including prescription medications), physical illness or disability, chronic pain, and social isolation.
Factors which may help protect older adults include having a good social support system, getting regular care for mental and physical health issues, having good coping skills and being adaptable to change.
In Long-Term Care facilities, staff are trained to assess and respond to mental health concerns, including risk for suicide. In the community at-large, the Mayo Clinic advises “If a friend or loved one talks or behaves in a way that makes you believe the person might try suicide, do not try to handle the situation alone.”
• Get help from a trained professional as quickly as possible.
• Urgethepersontocontact a suicide hotline.
• Call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
• U.S. veterans or service members who are in crisis can call 988 and then press '1' for the Veterans Crisis Line. Or text 838255. Or chat online at https://www.veteranscrisisline.n et/get-help-now/chat/ The Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in the U.S. has a Spanish language phone line at 1-888628-9454 (toll-free).