Suicide in Older Adults With and Without Known Mental Illness: Results From the National Violent Death Reporting System, 2003–2016

Schmutte, Timothy

doi:10.1016/j.amepre.2019.11.001

Cited by 53 publications

(43 citation statements)

References 68 publications

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“…Training also should include geriatrics, extended care, and oncology providers because most older adults who die by firearm suicide have physical health problems but no known mental illness. [73][74][75] Lethal means safety counseling training has been shown to improve HCPs' knowledge about the relationship between access to lethal means and suicide, and confidence in and frequency of having lethal means safety counseling conversations. 76 Likewise, training should include peer counselors; veterans are receptive to fellow veterans raising the topic of safe storage.…”

Section: Require Enhanced Lethal Means Safety Standards and Trainingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Veterans, Firearms, and Suicide: Safe Storage Prevention Policy and the PREVENTS Roadmap

Lemle¹

2020

Federal Practitioner

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Section: Require Enhanced Lethal Means Safety Standards and Trainingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Veterans, Firearms, and Suicide: Safe Storage Prevention Policy and the PREVENTS Roadmap

Lemle¹

2020

Federal Practitioner

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“…In a recent study of older adults, three-fourths of suicide decedents did not inform others of their intent to commit suicide. This study also found that almost 82 % of males who committed suicide with a firearm were without a known mental illness [ 48 ]. The most frequently identified risk factor for suicide in these elderly males was a physical health problem (54 %), not a mental health problem.…”

Section: Prevention Of Firearm-related Suicidesmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…Also, mentally ill elderly may not always seek treatment and even if treated, they may continue to live with access to firearms. Epidemiological and clinical models solely focusing on mental illnesses cannot predict future suicide attempts very well, mental illnesses the in elderly may exist with comorbidities and substance use disorders posing a risk for suicides, and an overemphasis on mental illness may lead to stereotyping of mental illness and its association with firearm violence and suicides [ 19 , 20 , 37 , 40 , 44 , 48 , 21 ].…”

Section: Prevention Of Firearm-related Suicidesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Firearm Suicides in the Elderly: A Narrative Review and Call for Action

Price

Khubchandani

2021

J Community Health

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Firearm suicides are one of the leading causes of death for older Americans. The purpose of this review is to explore the risk factors associated with suicides in the elderly, provide an overview of the epidemiology of firearm-related suicides in older Americans, and explore methods of preventing firearm suicides in the elderly. The vast majority (70 %) of elderly suicides in the U.S were committed using a firearm. Elderly firearm suicides have increased by 49 % between 2010 and 2018, disproportionately affecting white males. Yearly firearm suicides in the elderly ranged from 4,276 in 2010 to 6,375 in 2018. In 2018, the rate of elderly male firearm suicides was 24.96/100,000 compared to a rate of 1.92/100,000 for elderly females, a rate ratio of 13 to 1 for males compared to females. The primary risk factors for elderly firearm suicides seem to be physical illnesses, mental illnesses, and social factors. Older Americans engage in suicidal behaviors with greater planning and lethality of intent than do young adults. Of all the strategies to prevent suicides with firearms, the most efficacious measures based on current research seem to be state firearm legislation and improving mental healthcare, but these effects are not specific to the elderly. Strengthening state firearm laws and improving mental healthcare for the elderly may have promise in preventing elderly firearm-related suicides. Additional implications for practice and research are discussed in this review.

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“…More than three fourths of suicide decedents did not disclose their suicidal intent. Most suicide deaths involved firearms, which were disproportionately used by decedents without known mental illness (81.6% of male and 44.6% of female decedents) compared with those with known mental illness (70.5% of male and 30.0% of female decedents) [ 26 ]. Disconnection between prior mental illness and suicide completion perhaps warrants the consideration of suicide as a separate psychiatric illness with its distinct symptoms and pathological processes.…”

Section: Suicide Rates Among Older Adultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Understanding Vulnerability to Late-Life Suicide

Ding

Kennedy

2021

Curr Psychiatry Rep

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Purpose of Review We review recent evidence on suicide among older adults, examine risk factors contributing to vulnerability to late-life suicide, and summarize possible interventions. Recent Findings We found a steadily increasing rate of late-life suicide in the USA in the past decade. Evidence supporting the integration of depression care managers into primary care for risk reduction is among the strongest to date. Pharmacologic and neuromodulation studies should be considered in geriatric depression complicated by suicidality. Broad societal campaigns about suicide education, as well as active outreach to psychiatric patients after discharge or a suicidal crisis, prevent suicidal behavior. Growing research supports an integrative multidisciplinary approach. Summary Suicide is a complex and multifaceted behavior with numerous casual points for intervention. Access to deadly means, presence of depression, disease, disability, and social disconnection are factors that increase vulnerability. Quality geriatric care, regular screening in primary and emergency care settings, and a multidisciplinary approach are necessary to mitigate risk factors. The COVID-19 pandemic amplifies need for a more aggressive approach.

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Suicide in Older Adults With and Without Known Mental Illness: Results From the National Violent Death Reporting System, 2003–2016

Cited by 53 publications

References 68 publications

Veterans, Firearms, and Suicide: Safe Storage Prevention Policy and the PREVENTS Roadmap

Veterans, Firearms, and Suicide: Safe Storage Prevention Policy and the PREVENTS Roadmap

Firearm Suicides in the Elderly: A Narrative Review and Call for Action

Understanding Vulnerability to Late-Life Suicide

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