Socioeconomic Risk Factors in the Precipitation of Suicide in the Elderly

Abstract

Suicide among the elderly is a critical public health problem. Large socioeconomic inequalities are present in suicide mortality cases, but the association is complex and may be different for elderly men and women. Reducing these differences could significantly reduce the burden of excess mortality, at least in elderly men. The aim of the present paper is to review research concerning the socioeconomic risk factors associated with suicide in the elderly. It is noted that the association between suicide risk and socioeconomic factors is likely to be overestimated when the effect of psychiatric status is not considered.