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Suicide Prevention in Adults (Age 30–65)
Author(s) -
Maris Ronald W.
Publication year - 1995
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.1995.tb00401.x
Subject(s) - spouse , depression (economics) , psychology , suicide prevention , gerontology , injury prevention , unemployment , poison control , clinical psychology , demography , medicine , medical emergency , sociology , anthropology , economics , macroeconomics , economic growth
Relatively little is known about midlife suicides, compared to adolescent and elderly suicides. A life‐span model of suicidal behaviors is suggested as a heuristic conceptual tool. General midlife tasks and crises, as outlined by Levinson and Erikson, are reviewed. However, more than routine midlife developmental problems occur in most suicides. Some of the possible distinctive traits of midlife suicides (versus younger and older suicides) include: loss of spouse, years of heavy drinking, reaching the age of high depression risk, and occupational problems (including unemployment, inability to work, and retirement). Midlife suicide rates tend to be highest among white males, although female suicide rates peak in midlife. The paper concludes with a review of assessment and treatment issues related to a half‐dozen high‐risk midlife suicide types.