Suicide in Old Age

In this course, Dr. Diego De Leo (AO, MD, PhD, DSc, FRCPE, FRANZCP; Dept Psychiatry, University of Queensland, Australia; Dept Community Medicine, West Virginia University, USA; Dept Psychology, Primorska University, Slovenia) presents much current epidemiological data regarding global suicide rates before focusing on the situation of older adults with respect to suicide. Dr. De Leo outlines risk factors, issues of depression and physical impairment, socio-environmental factors, and reasons for which elderly people self-harm. A case example is presented of an eminent 104-year-old who died in Switzerland through assisted suicide. The special situation of homicide-suicides in the case of Alzheimer’s patients and their carers is discussed, as well as issues of loneliness and isolation during these pandemic times.