Suicide is a terrible thing, no matter how old you are. It may surprise people to know that elder suicide is a problem. As people get older, they start thinking about how their life turned out.

Sometimes this can cause dark thoughts. This can make them more vulnerable to bad decisions. Especially, if they aren’t happy with the answers that they come to.

Why is This a Problem?

 

Older men are at a higher risk of committing suicide than older women. 85 and older aged white men are at the most risk.

There are many reasons that seniors are vulnerable to suicide. They can become depressed and anxious due to the loss of loved ones, their body not working like they’re supposed to, and the general loss of independence.

What makes this all the harder is that mental illness in seniors is hard to spot. It’s often dismissed as a part of another problem.

Elder Suicide: What to Look for

 

There are some personality traits you can look for in your aging loved ones. This can include timidness, shyness, seclusiveness, a tendency toward hypochondriasis, hostility, or a rigid independent lifestyle.

Of course there is also frustration and anger as well.

You should keep an eye on how they are feeling physically. Pain can take a large toll on anyone, even more so when they are older.

Any sleeping problems like having too little or too much can be a sign. You should also see how much they eat too.

You can read more about this problem here.