Individual and area-level factors correlated with death by suicide in older adults

Abstract

Objective: To determine the influence of individual and area-level characteristics associated with suicide in older adults.

Method: This study used two complementary data sources. The first used administrative data from the Quebec Coroner's office and included information on suicide deaths in older adults aged 65years and over who died by suicide between 2000 and 2005 (n=903 persons). The second data source, which was used to identify the control group, came from a longitudinal study on seniors' health that was conducted in Quebec between 2004 and 2005 (n=2493 persons). Logistic regression analyses were used to test for associations between suicide and individual and area-level level characteristics.

Results: Suicide was associated with male gender, age, the presence of a physical and mental disorder and the use of health services. At the area-level level, suicide was associated with a higher population density, concentration of men, lower rates of education and higher rate of unemployment. Gender specific analyses also showed different patterns of associations on suicide risk.

Conclusions: Suicide in older adults is associated with area-level and individual characteristics. This suggests that policies targeting only one level of risk factors are less likely to significantly influence suicide among this population.

Keywords: Ecological study; Senior suicide; Suicide method; area-level characteristics.