Elderly suicide rates: cross-national comparisons and association with sex and elderly age-bands

Abstract

Suicide rates generally increase with age. Examination of cross-national variations in elderly suicide rates may allow the generation of aetiological hypotheses. Suicide rates for males and females in the age-bands 65-74 years and 75+ years were ascertained from the World Health Organisation website for all the listed countries. Cross-national variations were examined by segregating different countries into four quartiles of elderly suicide rates. Suicide rates between males and females and between the two age-bands were compared across different countries. The main findings were: (i) there is wide cross-national variation in elderly suicide rates; (ii) elderly suicide rates were the lowest in Caribbean, central American and Arabic countries, and the highest in central and eastern European, some oriental and some west European countries; (iii) suicide rates were higher in men compared to women for both the age-bands; and, (iv) suicide rates were higher in the age-band 75+ years compared to the age-band 65-74 years for males and females. Potential explanations for regional and cross-national variations in elderly suicide rates include cross-national differences in genetic and environmental factors, prevalence of mental illness in the elderly, life expectancy, socio-economic deprivation, social fragmentation, cultural factors, the availability of appropriate healthcare services, and public health initiatives to improve the detection and treatment of mental illness, mental health and suicide prevention.