Elder suicide: a selective guide to resources

Abstract

Elder suicide is a major problem, particularly in the USA, that accounts for 15.9 in 100,000 deaths, or an average of one death every 95 minutes. The rate of elder suicide is higher than that of any other age group. Unlike teens, or younger age groups, the elderly attempting suicide are largely successful. This selective literature guide includes materials on elder suicide that deal with all aspects of the topic, including identification of those at risk, prevention, and survivors, as well as resources addressing alternative views of suicide, such as assisted, rational, and pre‐emptive suicide.

The Fading Dream of Retirement: Social and Financial Considerations Affecting the Retirement Decision

“…The disconnected social self can lead to alienation. This is recognized by Elder (1977) in the high rate of suicide among White American males who take their own life in old age because they lack employment (which contributes to low morale) and, their social networks enervated, suffer from loneliness (see also Lang, 2003). African American and White women do not commit suicide to the same degree as their male counterparts, largely because they have a stronger social network (see Bender, 2000;Canetto, 1995;see also McPherson et al, 2006); however, the suicide rate for White women rises to rival that of men for those who are socially isolated (Osgood and Eisenhandler, 1995).…”