Suicide is considerably more common in people over the age of 60 compared to younger age groups. Increases in life expectancy, including for those with living with mental health disorders, mean that the burden of suicide in older adults will continue to rise without effective prevention strategies. Understanding the causes, nature and pathways for prevention in older adults is therefore becoming a priority for suicide prevention research and policy.
The causes of suicide are complex and often involve an interaction between multiple domains and risk factors. In older adults, age-related decline in health and cognitive performance, as well as psychosocial stressors which lead to a loss of independence are some of the factors which distinguish suicide risk in later life. Furthermore, ageistic interpretations of mental health and well-being mean that despite having more frequent contact with health services, older adults often face barriers to receiving mental health support.
This Research Topic welcomes scientific contributions from multiple disciplines, including Reviews, Meta-Analysis as well as Original Research articles, Case Studies and Perspectives on the risk and prevention of suicidal behavior in later life. We welcome submissions that recognize the divergence and convergence of risk protective factors associated with suicide risk in older adults compared to older age groups as well as interventions that aim to reduce suicide-related behavior in later life.
Suicide is considerably more common in people over the age of 60 compared to younger age groups. Increases in life expectancy, including for those with living with mental health disorders, mean that the burden of suicide in older adults will continue to rise without effective prevention strategies. Understanding the causes, nature and pathways for prevention in older adults is therefore becoming a priority for suicide prevention research and policy.
The causes of suicide are complex and often involve an interaction between multiple domains and risk factors. In older adults, age-related decline in health and cognitive performance, as well as psychosocial stressors which lead to a loss of independence are some of the factors which distinguish suicide risk in later life. Furthermore, ageistic interpretations of mental health and well-being mean that despite having more frequent contact with health services, older adults often face barriers to receiving mental health support.
This Research Topic welcomes scientific contributions from multiple disciplines, including Reviews, Meta-Analysis as well as Original Research articles, Case Studies and Perspectives on the risk and prevention of suicidal behavior in later life. We welcome submissions that recognize the divergence and convergence of risk protective factors associated with suicide risk in older adults compared to older age groups as well as interventions that aim to reduce suicide-related behavior in later life.
