Division of Trauma and Surgical Critical Care, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, 3601 4th Street MS 8312, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA.
Division of Acute Care Surgery, Loma Linda University Medical Center, 11175 Campus Street, CP 21109, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA.
Clin Geriatr Med. 2019 Feb;35(1):133-145. doi: 10.1016/j.cger.2018.08.012. Epub 2018 Oct 11.
Suicide in the elderly is a growing problem. The elderly population is increasing, and elderly patients have multiple issues that place them at higher risk of suicidality. These issues include physical illnesses, mental illness, loss of functional status, isolation, and family, financial, and social factors. Access to firearms is another significant risk factor, because elderly patients are more likely to use firearms in suicide attempts; interventions to reduce firearms mortality may save lives. Tackling the difficult problem of suicide in the elderly may require a multidisciplinary, community-based series of interventions.
老年人自杀是一个日益严重的问题。老年人口不断增加，老年患者存在多种问题，使他们面临更高的自杀风险。这些问题包括身体疾病、精神疾病、功能丧失、孤立以及家庭、经济和社会因素。获得枪支也是一个重要的风险因素，因为老年患者在自杀尝试中更有可能使用枪支；减少枪支死亡率的干预措施可能会拯救生命。解决老年人自杀这一难题可能需要采取多学科、以社区为基础的一系列干预措施。
