Citation

Conwell Y. Am. J. Geriatr. Psychiatry 2022; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2022, American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry, Publisher Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.jagp.2022.09.015

PMID

36210263

Abstract

On March 14, 1932 George Eastman, founder of Kodak, industrialist, entrepreneur, and fabulously wealthy philanthropist wrote these words: "To my friends - my work is done, why wait?" He then pulled a handgun from his bedside table and shot himself to death. Eastman's words convey the gritty self-determination that marked his life. However, they mask other truths that made Eastman at such high risk for suicide - chronic and progressive illness, pain, inability to care for himself, social isolation, loss of identity and purpose, hopelessness, and demoralization.

Language: en