Senior Suicide a Global Problem

Senior and elderly suicide is not unique to the United States. Seniors suicides are on the rise in many countries around the world. The International Association for Suicide Prevention has established an international effort through a task force. The following excerpt is from their website.

IASP Task Force on Elderly Suicide Prevention (2006)
Suicide is not only a youth problem. In fact, studies show that, in many countries, suicides rates among elderly persons are higher than or as high as young people. However, suicide in old age is a much neglected area. Considering that the number and proportion of the senior population will increase significantly in coming decades (not only in financially wealthy countries, but also in poorer countries), it is probable that the absolute number of suicides in this group will increase accordingly. During the IASP Congress in Durban [South Africa], it was therefore proposed to create a Task Force on Elderly Suicide Prevention.

Goals

to identify and report on prevention projects that focus on the elderly (aged 65+).
to increase IASP’s involvement in elderly suicide prevention.
to increase awareness and understanding about suicide in the elderly.

Suggested chairpersons

Sylvie Lapierre, University of Quebec in Trois-Rivieres, Canada.
Annette Erlangsen, University of Aarhus, Denmark and University of Rochester, USA.
Collaborators: the International Research Group on Suicide among the Elderly.

Planned activities

identification and description of prevention projects, which have the elder population as a main target group.
identify the limits and strengths of these projects
organization of symposiums on suicide in older adults at IASP congresses.
development of a section on suicide in the elderly on the IASP website to increase awareness of members about the need of this population.