Suicide Among Elderly

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Abstract Suicide rate among elderly people is the highest in all countries. This paper explores the reasons, risk factors and warning signs that result in suicide among elderly people, and treatment of elderly people at risk for suicide. About 69.9% of elderly people who commit suicide are suffering from mood disorders, and 25.9% are suffering from neurotic type. Elderly people are different from young people. To them, suicide is always the outcome of a rational and justified decision, and they never give any indication of their intent. Even though the prevention of elderly suicide is hard, we should pay attention to the risk factors and warning so that the treatment could be provided on time to stop the tragic event from happening. Suicide Among the Elderly A death in the family is always devastating. But the pain is infinitely greater when a family member commits suicide. Suicide has been an issue among all ages, especially among elderly. According to World Health Organization (WHO), approximate one million people die by suicide in the world every year, and global suicide rate among elderly people is three time higher than the rate among youth (Wasserman 2011). However, it is more understandable that suicide rate among old aged people is higher, because elderly people may suffering from physical and mental illness which is more likely to result in suicide. But there are still risk factors and warning signs that we can recognized to prevent the tragic event from happening. Furthermore, once an elderly person is recognized as at risk for suicide, various of treatment can be provided on time. Elderly people who commit suicide often have complex physical and mental problem. Among older people, depression, feeling of hopelessness, social isolation, chronic illness, somatic illness, cognitive impairment, unrelieved pain, alcoholism, financial stress, and

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