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A study of suicides of older people in Sydney
Author(s) -
Snowdon John,
Baume Pierre
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
international journal of geriatric psychiatry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.28
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1099-1166
pISSN - 0885-6230
DOI - 10.1002/gps.586
Subject(s) - coroner , depression (economics) , suicidal ideation , suicide prevention , psychiatry , medicine , injury prevention , poison control , occupational safety and health , population , distress , gerontology , medical emergency , clinical psychology , environmental health , pathology , economics , macroeconomics
Background Reports based on studies of coroner's files show that suicides in old age are commonly related to depression, but that in a majority of cases disability or ill‐health is also a major factor. The aim of this study was to try to understand more clearly the precipitant causes of suicide in an older population. Method An Australian metropolitan coroner's office provided data concerning suicides in 1994–1998 of persons aged over 65 years. Results Of 210 elderly people who killed themselves, 160 (76%) were clearly depressed, including a majority of the 24% deemed to have understandable reasons for suicide. Physical ill‐health or disability was the major factor leading to suicide in 34% and appeared to contribute to suicidal ideation in another 24% of those who died; they had usually not been seen by psychiatrists. Conclusion Because depression is often treatable, even when associated with depressing circumstances, there is potential for further reduction of old age suicide rates by recognising and appropriately responding to symptoms of depression and distress. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.