Men age 75 and older are at a higher risk of suicide, with rates exceeding 55.7 deaths per 100,000 for those over 85. In contrast, older women show a decreasing suicide rate with age. Researchers emphasize the need for dedicated public health initiatives to address this issue, paralleling efforts focused on youth mental health, as the belief that depression is a natural aspect of aging contributes to neglecting older men’s mental health support.
Some 38.2 deaths per 100,000 among men age 75 to 84 are by suicide, which increases to 55.7 among those over 85, according to data from CDC.
Researchers are calling for a public health effort, much like the one to treat youth mental health, to help address suicide in older men.
Many attribute the recent declines in youth suicides to all the attention paid to the issue, and the ample resources devoted to it.
It is not a natural part of aging.
Collection
[
|
...
]