Recent developments: Suicide in older people

Despite lower rates of completed suicide in younger age groups, the absolute number of younger people dying as a result of suicide is higher than that for older people because of the current demographic structure of many societies. 1 Younger people are also more likely to be in employment. [...]the economic cost of suicide in younger people is more readily apparent than that in older people. According to a comprehensive review of psychological autopsy studies, 71-95% of elderly people who completed suicide had a psychiatric illness, most commonly depression. 4 Major depressive disorder has been found to be more common in completed suicides among older people than among younger counterparts and may affect as many as 83% of elderly people who die as a result of suicide. 5 The prevalence of completed suicide is, however, relatively low among elderly people with primary psychotic illnesses, personality disorders, anxiety disorders, and alcohol and other substance use disorders. 4 Data for suicidal behaviours, especially attempted suicide, between elderly and younger people suggests that different phenomena are involved.