Suicide Prevention
By Robert Goodman, MSW
Updated May 2022

Suicide is preventable and everyone must take action if someone is depressed or expresses suicidal thoughts. Older Americans are disproportionately likely to die by suicide. Although they comprise only 16.5 percent of the U.S. population, people age 65 and older accounted for 18 percent (or 8,500) of suicide deaths in 2019.

Depression, one of the conditions most commonly associated with suicide in older adults, Studies show that many older adults who die by suicide — up to 75 percent — visited a physician within a month before death. The risk of depression in the elderly increases with other illnesses and when ability to function becomes limited.

Signs of depression:

• Feeling nervous, empty, worthless, that you don’t enjoy things you used to, restless, irritable, unloved, that life isn’t worth living,
• sleeping more or less than usual, or eating more or less than usual

A suicidal person also may:

• talk about or seem preoccupied with death
• give away prized possessions
• take unnecessary risks
• have had a recent loss or expect one
• increase their use of alcohol, drugs or other medications
• fail to take prescribed medicines or follow required diets
• acquire a weapon.

Suicide is preventable. Learn the signs. Immediate action is needed if a person is threatening or talking about suicide. Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline toll-free number, available 24 hours a day, every day: 1-800-273-TALK (8255). All calls are confidential. Call 211 for information on local mental health or counseling services. You can also call the South County Mobile Crisis Center at 561.495.0522, #2.

Sources: www.nimh.nih.gov,  www.healthyplace.com