ELDERLY SUICIDES IN IRELAND

A comparison is made between the male and female Irish suicide rates f or the young (15-24 year-olds) and the old (over 65 years). The incide nce of suicide among the elderly has traditionally been higher than am ong the young, While this continues to be the case for females the rat es for young and old males have recently converged, Within the over 65 gear-old age group itself, a further comparison was made between the suicide rates of the 'young' old and 'old' old, In general, suicide is significantly more common in the 'young' old age group. The method of suicide employed by the elderly was then analysed. As expected hangin g, drowning and poisoning were most common although the extent to whic h they were used differed for males and females. Twelve elderly suicid es were examined as part of an on-going psychological autopsy study of Cork suicides, Information relating to their domestic, marital and ps ychological situation is discussed, Given these findings and those rel ating to method of suicide, the subject of suicide prevention in the e lderly is discussed.