Preventing Late-Life Suicide

Course overview

Suicide is a public health concern, and risks are often overlooked in elderly patients. While in recent years there has been a shift to higher suicide rates in middle age, there is still concern regarding suicide risk in older adults, especially males. The changes in suicide rates can be found at the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention web site. Alarmingly, hospitalized patients at high risk for suicide are not consistently referred for a psychiatric evaluation. Healthcare providers also frequently miss opportunities for mental health diagnosis and referral in primary care settings. To have an impact on late-life suicide, healthcare providers must know what symptoms to look for and routinely screen for depression to determine suicide risk.