Citation

Kapusta ND, Etzersdorfer E, Sonneck G. Psychiatr. Danub. 2006; 18(Suppl 1): 70.

Affiliation

Medical University of Vienna, Institute for Medical Psychology, Severingasse 9, 1170, Vienna, Austria. (nestor.kapusta@meduniwien.ac.at)

Copyright

(Copyright © 2006, Facultas Universitatis Studiorum Zagrabiensis - Danube Symposion of Psychiatry)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

16963971

Abstract

Suicides of the elderly aged 65 and over account for a large proportion of all suicides. Since suicide rates of the elderly are the highest among the western population, this group has been suggested to be addressed in prevention plans as a risk group. In order to assess possible approaches to prevention strategies, this work examined trends and differences of suicide methods in age groups and genders of the elderly. Three major high-risk groups could be identified: males using firearms, female poisonings which occur more often with increasing age and suicides by jumping from heights in both genders. Possible prevention strategies for this high-risk groups, which should be implemented in National Suicide Prevention Plans, are discussed in this work.

Language: en