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Suicide Among Minority Elderly: A Preliminary Investigation
Author(s) -
McIntosh John L.,
Santos John F.
Publication year - 1981
Publication title -
suicide and life‐threatening behavior
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.544
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 1943-278X
pISSN - 0363-0234
DOI - 10.1111/j.1943-278x.1981.tb00781.x
Subject(s) - suicide rates , demography , gerontology , suicide prevention , ethnic group , psychology , white (mutation) , medicine , poison control , environmental health , political science , sociology , biochemistry , chemistry , law , gene
In the United States, suicide has traditionally been considered a White elderly phenomenon. Suicide rates have been increasing for Nonwhites in recent years, but it is not clear how this may have affected the age distribution, particularly for specific Nonwhite groups. An investigation of official 1976 suicide statistics among minority elderly revealed that suicide rates are also highest among the old for Chinese‐, Japanese‐ and Filipino‐Americans. Among Blacks and Native Americans, however, suicide rates are extremely low for the aged. Explanations for these findings are suggested and the need for a long‐term study is indicated.