Understanding and Preventing Suicide in Older Adulthood

In this course, Dr. Matthew Fullen (PhD, MDIV, LPCC; Associate Professor, Virginia Tech University) offers a range of sobering statistics which highlight the high rates of suicide among many groups of older adults. Dr. Fullen explains the connections between ageing and mental health, and outlines additional risk factors and warning signs. He points out the twin problems that: (1) many older adults who die by suicide saw a primary health care provider within a short time period preceding their death and also that: (2) many such patients have had difficulties accessing mental health services. Dr. Fullen describes several lenses, models, and frameworks which can help illuminate the growing problem of older adult suicide and what you as a mental health professional can do about it at both individual and community levels.