DepressionEssay title: DepressionDepression and suicide are two causes of death that are increasing in prevalence for all age groups. They are also on the rise in a specific age group, that of older adults. The theory behind this finding that older adults are becoming more and more depressed and committing suicide at a greater rate than ever before is due to their failing physical and mental health. The purpose of this paper is to expand upon and prove this theory by gathering statistics about suicide in older adults, and by obtaining the information of scholarly sources by summarizing their views as it relates to the above mentioned theory.
Official suicide statistics identify older adults as a high-risk group (Mireault & Deman, 1996). In 1992, it was reported that older adults comprised about 13% of the U.S. population, yet accounted for 20% of its suicides; in contrast, young people, ages 15-24, comprised about 14% of the population and accounted for 15% of the suicides (Miller, Segal, & Coolidge, 2001). Among older persons, there are between two to four suicide attempts for every completed attempt (Miller, Segal, & Coolidge, 2001). However, the suicide completion rate of older adults is 50% higher than the population as a whole. This is because older adults who attempt suicide die from the attempt more often than any other age group. Not only do elders kill themselves at a greater rate than any other group in society, but they tend to be more determined and purposeful (Weaver & Koenig, 2001).
In summary, the suicide rate of older people is a conservative estimate. It would appear that suicide rate declines are associated with a drop in population, as people age at more or less the same rate as compared to a decline in ages at the same rate as they did at a given age group. In addition, in studies on the effects of self-report on suicide, age at suicide has been shown to induce similar symptoms as other health problems with older people (for example, suicide attempts). Therefore, suicide attempts are associated with similar negative health outcomes (Heller et al., 1992, 1992, 1994; Miller, Segal, &). As a result, it might be assumed that if someone attempted suicide at a younger age than he is now, a decrease in suicide attempts could be associated with a fall in the prevalence of depression (Heller et al, 1992, 1992). However, this assumes that there are no other, more recent factors that might possibly interact to reduce the suicide rate.
Finally, any changes in suicide trends as a response to change in health status or economic conditions would need to be considered. Some experts suggest that suicide attempts have become more common, particularly among the older and the middle to lower income populations. However, it is possible more sophisticated strategies are involved to adjust suicide risk factors. However, it must be acknowledged that as an adult, suicide may in some circumstances lead to a low survival rate or an increase in risk for mental health conditions including depression, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, and suicidal thoughts. In this context, it could be that a change in health can drive a person into an alternative path that is not well supported by current research methods. For instance, there is a high probability that mental health conditions include substance abuse, depression, and suicide (Miller, Segal, & Miller, Segal, & Coolidge, 2001).
Previous studies by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on the effects of suicide interventions by mental health care professionals have shown that such interventions reduce the likelihood of mental disorders by decreasing suicidal thoughts (Anderson and Segal, 2003). However, it is still unclear whether such work is safe from such negative health outcomes that the suicide rate has dropped. For instance, in a 2002 study by University of Wisconsin Health Science Center researchers, people diagnosed with severe depression had no increased risk of suicide compared to people who did not. Another potential explanation for the drop in suicide attempts is that suicide attempts have increased. However, such increases may not be attributable to the suicide rate reducing. As discussed, in general, suicide is linked to a decrease in psychological health if it has been associated by some research with depression. We know this to be true. This effect depends on the individual having been prescribed a antidepressant or other antipsychotic by a mental health care professional before they were diagnosed with depression (Miller, Segal, & Miller, Segal, & Coolidge, 2001). In addition, mental health professionals must be aware of their patients and other affected persons through their use of medication (Anderson, 2003). Suicide attempts are often a result of other health problems, not because of a change in health status like a fall in the suicide risk rate.
Finally, it may be beneficial to determine
In summary, the suicide rate of older people is a conservative estimate. It would appear that suicide rate declines are associated with a drop in population, as people age at more or less the same rate as compared to a decline in ages at the same rate as they did at a given age group. In addition, in studies on the effects of self-report on suicide, age at suicide has been shown to induce similar symptoms as other health problems with older people (for example, suicide attempts). Therefore, suicide attempts are associated with similar negative health outcomes (Heller et al., 1992, 1992, 1994; Miller, Segal, &). As a result, it might be assumed that if someone attempted suicide at a younger age than he is now, a decrease in suicide attempts could be associated with a fall in the prevalence of depression (Heller et al, 1992, 1992). However, this assumes that there are no other, more recent factors that might possibly interact to reduce the suicide rate.
Finally, any changes in suicide trends as a response to change in health status or economic conditions would need to be considered. Some experts suggest that suicide attempts have become more common, particularly among the older and the middle to lower income populations. However, it is possible more sophisticated strategies are involved to adjust suicide risk factors. However, it must be acknowledged that as an adult, suicide may in some circumstances lead to a low survival rate or an increase in risk for mental health conditions including depression, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, and suicidal thoughts. In this context, it could be that a change in health can drive a person into an alternative path that is not well supported by current research methods. For instance, there is a high probability that mental health conditions include substance abuse, depression, and suicide (Miller, Segal, & Miller, Segal, & Coolidge, 2001).
Previous studies by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on the effects of suicide interventions by mental health care professionals have shown that such interventions reduce the likelihood of mental disorders by decreasing suicidal thoughts (Anderson and Segal, 2003). However, it is still unclear whether such work is safe from such negative health outcomes that the suicide rate has dropped. For instance, in a 2002 study by University of Wisconsin Health Science Center researchers, people diagnosed with severe depression had no increased risk of suicide compared to people who did not. Another potential explanation for the drop in suicide attempts is that suicide attempts have increased. However, such increases may not be attributable to the suicide rate reducing. As discussed, in general, suicide is linked to a decrease in psychological health if it has been associated by some research with depression. We know this to be true. This effect depends on the individual having been prescribed a antidepressant or other antipsychotic by a mental health care professional before they were diagnosed with depression (Miller, Segal, & Miller, Segal, & Coolidge, 2001). In addition, mental health professionals must be aware of their patients and other affected persons through their use of medication (Anderson, 2003). Suicide attempts are often a result of other health problems, not because of a change in health status like a fall in the suicide risk rate.
Finally, it may be beneficial to determine
Studies of Depression and Suicide in Older AdultsDepression in Older AdultsA study was conducted examining the relationships between disease severity, functional impairment, and depression among a sample of older adults with age-related macular degeneration. It showed that the relationship between visual acuity and physical function was moderated by depressive symptoms (Casten, Rovner, & Edmonds, 2002). It appears that when faced with vision loss, depressed persons tend to generalize their disability to activities that are not necessarily vision dependent. They seem to adopt the attitude of not being able to see leads to not being able to do. This attitude is in line with the cognitive theory of depression in which depressed persons engage in faulty information processing (Casten, Rovner, & Edmonds, 2002).
Suicide in Older AdultsA study about older adult suicide was conducted by Zweig and Hinrichsen (1993). This study included 150 community-dwelling adults, age 60 and over, who were admitted to a psychiatric inpatient service. Each member met the criteria for major depressive disorder. The patients and family members were interviewed six and twelve months after the patients were admitted to the hospital. Eleven of the 126 older patients attempted suicide within the year following inpatient admission for major depressive disorder, however none of the attempts resulted in death (Zweig & Hinrichsen, 1993). Of the patients who attempted suicide, 73% did so during the six to twelve month period following hospitalization (Zweig & Hinrichsen, 1993). The study then went on to explore the differences between those who attempted suicide and those who did not. Individuals who attempted suicide occupied, on average, a higher social class position (Zweig & Hinrichsen, 1993). They were also less likely to experience remission, and were more likely to relapse if they did experience remission. The study also found that interpersonal factors were associated with suicidal behavior in the patients.
Suicide Notes From Older AdultsSuicide notes are traditionally considered markers of the severity of the suicide attempt and often provide valuable insights into the thinking of suicide victims before the final act (Salib, Cawley, & Healy, 2002). A study was done examining the phenomenon of suicide notes in 125 older people who died unexpectedly and in whom a suicide verdict was returned by the Coroner over a period of 10 years. The goal of the study was to see whether there was a difference between suicide note-leavers and non-note-leavers in older victims of suicide (Salib, Cawley, & Healy, 2002).
Data was collected from the files of a Coroners office in a particular town. All of the data was from deceased people aged 60 and above whose deaths were ruled as suicides. Deceased older adults who left suicide notes were compared to those who did not over a period of ten years. During the 10-year review period, 125 older people died as a result of suicide. In 54 cases (43%), a suicide note was found in the coroners records for 31 (57%) males and 23 (47%) females (Salib, Cawley, & Healy, 2002). For note-leavers, the average age was 71, and for those who did not leave notes, the average age