THE ELDERLY: highest risk for suicide

[AZBlue]

Elderly are at highest risk for suicide
Number expected to rise as baby boomers age, experts say
Associated Press
Updated: 3:56 p.m. MT Sept 18, 2007
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20840726/

Not long after 72-year-old Anne Beale Golsan had retired on disability from her job as a librarian, she put a stack of paid bills out for the mail, hung up a freshly pressed outfit and taped a note to the front of the house.

“Don’t come in by yourself. Get somebody to come with you. Sorry, Love Beale.”

Her niece arrived at the house they shared in Baton Rouge, La., to find police already there. Golsan had killed herself with a gunshot to the head.

(snip)

The elderly are the highest risk population in the country for suicide. But few suicide-prevention programs target them — a result, advocates say, of scarce funding and lack of concern for older Americans.

And mental heath experts say the number of elderly suicides is likely to climb as baby boomers enter their twilight years.

(snip)

Ten states passed laws last year intended to curb suicide among children and young adults. But only two — New Jersey and New Mexico — passed laws addressing suicide among the elderly, according to Suicide Prevention Action Network USA, a national advocacy group based in Washington, D.C.

Depression is underdetected at all ages, mental health groups say. But much more funding is available for treating younger people, including $82 million in federal money approved in 2004.

The situation prompted Sen. Harry Reid of Nevada, who lost his father to suicide, to propose funding more suicide-prevention programs for the elderly and changing a Medicare coverage rule that forces seniors to pay more for outpatient mental health services than other medical care.

Some advocates and mental health workers say they also have to battle a prevailing notion that depression is a normal part of aging.

“It is not natural and should be treated at all times,” said Dr. Paula Clayton, a psychiatrist and medical director for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

(snip)

In San Francisco, Patrick Arbore founded the Friendship Line in San Francisco in 1973 after seeing the lack of understanding some suicide hot line workers displayed for older people.

The line, which lets people call just to talk or get support, now handles more than 3,000 calls a month. About one-quarter of the callers have suicidal thoughts, a staffer said. But most just want a compassionate listener.

“It’s about reminding people that they are still a part of their community,” Arbore said. “Those connections bind us to life.”

I find the lack of care or concern for the elderly in this country disgusting. Most societies treasure and celebrate their elderly - we cast them aside, don't want to listen to them and find them annoying. What's wrong with us?

[EST]

1. Yes, we treasure youth at the expense of everything else.

Especially youth with big tits and curvaceous butts.

[Triana]

29. or youth with hotshot computer or high-tech skills...

...kids who were born with computers in their hands. Older, more stable, dependable and more experienced workers (who have better people and soft skills if not better high-tech skills and experience) are shoved out or aside to make room for (cheaper) hotshots who don't even have any skills working with other people (only computers).

Years of experience count for nothing and employers don't value it. That's one aspect of it too.

[EST]

36. Sounds like experience talking.

[Comadreja]

31. that doesn't go as far as

the next generation to which we will pass on a dying planet and a Megalodon defecit.

[EST]

37. In all my reading of history and excited exploration of newly

discovered, translated, or understood bits of prehistory, I keep finding the same people, over and over.

The details and circumstances change somewhat, but the same damned battles, over the same issues keep getting fought every generation or two.
There's no way in hell, at this point, that we can hand off a better world than we found, not even as good.

With the population expected to stabilize at about ten billion in a couple of generations, and then, perhaps, begin a long, slow decline, the exhaustion of certain natural resources with little prospect of long term replacement, and the general soiling of the environment, I have small hope that we can pass on anything that I won't feel guilty about.

And we still haven't learned to surmount our anti-social influences or how to handle psychopathology. (Sigh.)

[nam78_two]

2. We do have a youth driven culture in this country :-(

I find the lack of care or concern for the elderly in this country disgusting. Most societies treasure and celebrate their elderly - we cast them aside, don't want to listen to them and find them annoying.

I tend to agree with you, based on my own experiences (observation that is, because I am 29) that our attitude towards the elderly is pretty bad. Many people don't seem to realise that we will ALL be old some day :shrug:. I actually enjoy the company of interesting people who are much older than myself :).
They have just seen so much. Any generation has just so much to share in terms of their experiences. I would like to be able to tell some young people some day just how much Bush sucked :D.

[AZBlue]

5. I agree!

I love talking with older people. They have such insight and a different perspective. And, I guess partly it's because I love history - and to talk to someone who lived through something that happened before I was even born is such a treat to me!

[nam78_two]

6. Exactly

I have always enjoyed history and you are exactly right. Talking to someone who can give you first hand accounts about it is fascinating!

[tainted_chimp]

3. Our culture is youth obsessed.

"New" is considered preferable to old, and everything has a shelf life. That makes everything disposable. Including people. Plus, in my grandparent's generation, the family tended to all reside together. Young and old alike. That isn't the case anymore on the whole.
It's a shame too. With all the experience of a long-lived life, there is a LOT that can be learned.

But, I've always been attracted to the past....and consequently, to the people who have lived through it. I relish the stories.

[nam78_two]

4. "I've always been attracted to the past"

Me too! A very close friend of mine in a retirement home I used to visit was a holocaust survivor. He was more fun than pretty much anyone I have known! I could listen to him for hours rather than chat about whatever is the latest show on tv or something like that with some of the people I know closer to my own age.

[tainted_chimp]

8. Cheers to you, nam78_two!

I love your observations.

There is sooo much more to talk about (and experience) than the empty, ephemeral pop culture that is reamed down our throats day in and out. All that deafening distraction leading to the total disintegration of our standards.
Without an appreciation of the history of anything: art, science, music, literature or even the art of oral conversation/storytelling, there is nothing to compare anything to! Nothing to base it on.

Nothing left to the imagination.

It drives me insane at times.

[PDenton]

25. that's true with everything (valuing newer things)

I'd venture to guess the average elderly person might not get a fair shake on DU, though. The elderly often have very antiquated ideas, about everything. Maybe this is a case of where a conservative person would appreciate the elderly more. Sometimes the elderly become more tolerant as they get older but often times they don't.

My grandmother is almost 80. She used to work in the elections, it was a volunteer job she did. 6 years ago, though, she was working the elections and she made the mistake of using the word "colored" to describe a black person, and this woman within earshot was deeply offended. Nevermind that was what people of that age used to say. My grandmother was so sad she had offended this woman, she stopped working in the elections. My grandma never thought of herself as a bigot which made the accusation very hard. That's just an example though of how sometimes old people don't fit in with changing mores and folksways.

[AZBlue]

42. I have to be blunt: you need to get out more - and grow up a little.

That's one of the most absurd things I've read on DU. Being young doesn't equal being smarter than everyone else - actually, 99.9% of the time, it's just the opposite.

As for the one particular situation with your grandmother (you'll soon learn not to assume everything is the same for everyone), it sounds as if it wasn't handled well by the people managing that voting station. Yes, she said something that she shouldn't have because it was acceptable once and she just hadn't replaced the word in her personal vocabulary (just wait, you'll do lots of that soon too) but she also meant no harm by it and it was an innocent mistake. It's a shame that her time and input wasn't more valued and someone didn't explain the situation to her properly, letting her know that she may have made a mistake but that certainly didn't mean her volunteer days were over.

And, as for looking down your nose those who are older, you'll change your mind as soon as your not the youngest kid around anymore (and that will come before you know it). You'll realize how silly your opinions and prejudices were - it's a shame you have them now, but luckily for all of us, they won't last.

[pitohui]

7. many of these suicides are because of illlness

if we are doing it right, then the elderly would always be at the highest risk of suicide, because they would always be the folks with the highest risk of having the physical plant going into a complete breakdown

i have alzheimer's disease in my family and i think if you want to stand in my way of committing suicide after a certain point, you have to be a cruel person indeed

we should not force people to stay alive when all chance of quality of life is gone

my friend's father was screaming in pain for a year begging to be allowed to die -- he had a terminal cancer w. no chance of recovery, yet his first doctors did not want to give him sufficient pain medicine to allow him quality of life, they wanted to protect their licenses from the DEA yet they wanted to keep him alive to collect his money, they were TORTURING this man for profit when he was already too helpless to kill himself

we have a society that doesn't want to prescribe sufficient drugs to kill pain, yet wants to keep the insured or well-to-do elderly alive to milk them of their last dime, and who cares if the victim is in horrible torment the whole time

there are times when suicide is a blessing

nobody gets out of here alive

i should not be obligated to stay alive in terrible pain for someone else to cash in a profit or to hear my story

listen to my story now, when i'm middle aged, listen to my story when i'm in hale old age, but when i'm in terrible physical and mental pain that can no longer be cured get the hell out of my way

"sometimes it ain't about you"

[AZBlue]

9. There's a big difference between ending suffering and just feeling old and worthless.

I'm not at all against letting someone die early, peacefully, without pain and suffering and of their own choice. We do it for our pets because we love them so much, why can't we do it for our parents and grandparents too?

However, while elderly suicides may indeed be from the effects of illness, much is not. Many older Americans are not only depressed - for which there is a cure, provided we have adequate health care for everyone - but extremely, painfully lonely. We don't want to talk to them, we don't visit them, we don't give them the resources to gather together for entertainment and companionship, we ignore them. And that is a crime.

[nam78_two]

10. What she said.nt

[pitohui]

15. agreed BUT that is not the reason rate of suicide highest in elderly

the reason suicide rate should be highest in the elderly is because elderly are most likely to have terminal diseases and need to have the option to put an end once the best of life is over

among people i know, being dx'd as "depressed" for the first time in old age has been misdiagnosis, for instance, my mom almost lost her life, because she was brushed off as being depressed and given prozac

she ended up getting an emergency quadruple bypass to treat her heart disease, and the surgeon said she would have been dead in days w.out the surgery

the depression dx was a way to brush her off because "everyone knows" that old ladies are all sad and depressed and shit and so why bother to test them for cardiovascular disease

i also know a man dx'd w. depression, who died of his colon cancer, which was the real cause of his fatique -- they brushed him off as "depressed" and found the real problem too late for him to have any chance

i don't believe someone is happy their whole life and suddenly they are tired and their personality changes without an underlying PHYSICAL cause, and in my personal circle, the dx of depression in an older person has resulted in dangerous delay of dx'ing the real problem

[PDenton]

34. alot of elderly are afraid of nursing homes

My aunt and uncle were taking care of my uncle's father and he died eventually at 93. He had become a dangerous driver and refused to give up the keys, almost killed several people. He was very stubborn and couldn't accept the idea of going into a nursing home or giving up driving. He also had been an alcoholic. Frankly he was an asshole even when he was younger/healthier, a very difficult human being to be around, it is amazing my uncle put up with him.

[NotGivingUp]

39. EXACTLY! It is pitiful that we are letting them get away with it. n/t

[Lone_Star_Dem]

11. I posted about this earlier today

While I'm sure that some of them are due to an illness, or a desire to not burden their families with their deteriorating health. However, from the article one can see that not all are.

There are many who fall through the cracks who suffer from depression or other such mental illnesses.

We can address that there are social adjustments that can cause depression in young people. Why then, is it difficult to make the connection that there are also social adjustments that could lead to depression in older people?

[AZBlue]

13. I can imagine it would be easy to become depressed as you get older.

So many societal issues, such as the worshiping of youth and the fact that elderly as a whole are ignored in this country. They are the butt of many jokes, they are "tolerated", and they are shoved aside. They are often the victims of crime (physical and financial). They are completely undervalued and they are fully aware of it.

And, combine that with personal issues: realizing you aren't as energetic or strong as you used to be, watching friends, family members and maybe even your spouse die, living a dignified and responsible life only to wind up in financial ruin - any one of these could add to depression and many elderly have to deal with more than one at a time.

It's not surprising at all that depression would affect many seniors.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

14. Not surprising at all

And yet it's not something that has been addressed.

I live in a community that is by a majority retired people. I've seen and spoken to many people who aren't shy to tell you that society has tossed them aside. And they're right. But what modern society doesn't realize is that these people are gems. Their wisdom and memories would have once been held in the highest of esteem, now they can't get someone to hold the door for them.

But I'm digressing. The point is, they feel that society no long has a place for them and they suffer from the loss of usefulness of purpose. As you said they also see their friends and spouses dying before them often. It's not easy.

I know one gentleman who's 92 years old. His wife passed 2 years ago and she was the last surviving link he had on this planet. No children, no other living relatives at all. It's been a battle to get him involved in anything. And the sad part is he's very healthy for his age in every way except he's depressed.

Yes, I too can see where that would be a difficult transition.

[pitohui]

16. you don't understand that clinical depression is a disease

depression is not caused by being "tossed aside," it is not caused by something somebody does to you, it is caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain

it usually appears early in life

if someone suddenly becomes depressed for the first time in old age, for the love of that person, do not sit back and assume they are depressed, do not let a doctor fob them off with prozac and xanax, make sure you get a full physical work-up of that person

we are shit on as teen-agers too, utterly without power, we were criminals if we even enjoyed a basic human pleasure such as sex -- and yet it's recognized that clinical depression in teens is not caused by the shitty treatment they get in society or all teens would be depressed, it's a brain disease

[Lone_Star_Dem]

18. There's more than one cause of depression

The one being discussed is triggered by events in ones life which are beyond ones control. Such as death, divorce, etc.

This type of depression can also lead to suicide.

[AZBlue]

21. Do you suffer from Depression?

Because I do, so don't try to explain it to me. Especially when you obviously don't know much about it. Yes, it can be partially clinical - but some Depression is situational only. And, some Depression is both.

You obviously have a lot of issues - so I won't be encouraging this anymore with any further responses. Good luck.

(oh, and it's not Depression that occurs early in life - it's schizophrenia that often shows up in your late teens or early twenties - Depression can occur at any age)

[PDenton]

30. clinical depression can happen at any age

it really can. Often it starts in younger people, but this tends to be a chronic problem. In older people, middle aged and elderly it is often precipitated by a loss, or sense of loss, and grief, and a person doesn't respond normally to the grief or loss so they become depressed. Sometimes this person was depressed or moody when they were younger, but not severe enough to cause a big problem. Sometimes in women and men there may be a hormonal component, or it may be assosciated with age-related dementia (Alzheimer's or multiple-infarct dementia) as well. Strokes can also cause depression and people often notice personality changes after a stroke.

It can also be caused by external environmental factors. For instance if a child lives in a demanding home or an abusive home sometimes they internalize all those negative views about the world.

[Hoof Hearted]

32. Ah yes, the poor, put upon typical teenagers of America.

They have it so bad.

[TygrBright]

17. There are several kinds of depression...

...the easiest one to treat is the straight endocrinological depression; that is, imbalance of brain chemistry from purely a purely physiological basis.

That is, the depressed person is not poor, not grieving a terrible loss, not threatened with incapacitating disease, etc., but experiences the symptoms of depression in spite of an otherwise ordinary, reasonably pleasant life.

Then there is the short-term externally-precipitated depression: That is, an otherwise normally not-depressed person who suddenly loses a spouse or child, has an important relationship break off, loses a job they loved, etc. This, too, usually yields fairly readily to treatment once it is recognized and diagnosed and the various treatment options are tested.

Then there is depression secondary to other physical processes like untreated chronic disease, undiagnosed diseases, etc. That's harder to treat since often the treatments for depression are not compatible with other treatment regimens. But there are things that can be done to palliate the worst depressive symptoms, and if the primary disease process is interrupted and that damage alleviated, recovery is possible.

The worst kind of depression is the combination endocrinological depression aggravated by long-term external triggers: Poverty, physical incapacity, isolation, etc. That's the kind that many elderly folks experience. It's aggravated by a social structure that deliberately isolates the elderly, moves them into age-segregated residences and communities, often geographically isolated from family and old friends, provides them with no valid, valuable role to play in family or societal well-being, and bombards them with media messages about how unattractive and useless they are and how unpleasant their company is for all the important (i.e. younger) people who have important work to do. It's aggravated by the whole 'nuclear family' societal ethos that ignores the value of extended families and makes the elderly a burden to their children. That kind of depression doesn't always yield to treatment. Even chemistry can't change society.

somberly,
Bright

[Lone_Star_Dem]

19. What an enlightening post

Thank you, for taking this seriously.

[AZBlue]

22. Thank you.

You said much more eloquently and much more completely what I tried to explain above.

[Triana]

28. health problems and lack of care or affordable care, and/or lack of insurance...

...or copays so huge they can't cover them on a fixed income - that also adds to depression. All this stuff is a LOT for an elderly person to have to shoulder as they age.

I'm not surprised they get depressed and want to just go. They're treated as so much garbage by society anyway.

[Lint Head]

12. The elderly only make money for corporations when

they have an adult child with money or a pension that takes care of them. Otherwise the corporation considers them worthless.
That is why health care is a right not a choice. Socialized medicine now! No one, not even the penniless should die because of lack of health care including mental health care.
Also, the culture is filled with young Madison Avenue stereotypes. This social concept eliminates the acceptability of the elderly
in mainstream society. :dem:

[Triana]

20. My 80-year-old Mother has threatened (n/t)

[AZBlue]

23. I'm so sorry!

Were you able to get help for her? My mom's suffered from Depression throughout her life and as she gets older I worry about it more and more. She's definitely suffering from it now, but she's not suicidal (as far as I can tell). Unfortunately she won't have any medical care until Medicare kicks in 4 years from now.

[Triana]

27. I was not. She lives across the country. I did tell my sister and bro...

...who live closer to her that she said she was thinking about it. She seems to be OK and hasn't mentioned it since but it's still worrisome.

[PDenton]

24. youth depression and suicide is far more devestating

That's not to say that depression in the elderly shouldn't be a concern, or heartbreaking for relatives, However, the elderly have largely lived their life. The problem is also going to be more difficult to treat because depression in the elderly ties into the status of the elderly in society, and there are probably also age-related neurological deficits that feed into the increased rate of depression in the elderly.

[AZBlue]

26. Really? I'm sure their children, relatives and friends would disagree with you.

[Le Taz Hot]

38. Jesus!

You, my dear, are the epitome of our youthful society. ALL depression and suicide is devastating. You write of a HUGE part of our population (and natural resources, I might add) due to the fact that "the elderly have largely lived their life." EVERY day and EVERY life is precious. That's OK, you're in good company around here. In the last 3 weeks on DU I've been informed that:

1) Old people shouldn't have sex because it's gross.
2) If women were allowed to go topless (as men are), that liberty should not be extended to older women.
3) It's perfectly OK to refer to older people as "geezers" (reference to Fred Thompson -- people may not like his politics but using a horribly ageist term is bigoted).

[AZBlue]

41. Absurd.

#1 - just too stupid to refute.
#2 - well, I don't think any woman should go around topless, but that's just me.
#3 - rude and annoying, to put it mildly.

[Raster]

40. Let me guess, under 30?

This is probably the most blatant example of ageism I've seen yet on DU. "youth depression and suicide is far more devastating"? To whom?

[Comadreja]

33. Why not let the elderly smoke crack?

Really, why not give them the right to end their days in a haze of euphoria instead of depression and fear?

[idgiehkt]

35. It makes me really sad

We don't have generational ties in this culture. I am getting ready to be an aunt, in Dec, and April, and I will always be "old" to the little ones coming into our family. My granparents, particularly my paternal ones, had a profound impact on my life. Our culture really doesn't have a "marketable use" for older people...it's a really bizarre and sad situation.