Washington, D.C. (September 12, 2007)The suicide rate among elderly men while it has declined over the past 20 years remains higher than for any other age group, according to the most recent statistics available from the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The suicide rate for males 85 years and older is the highest of all more than twice the overall male rate.
While the vital statistics data are valuable, more detailed information about violent deaths such as suicide is crucial to informing prevention efforts. The
National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS), run by the CDC, is a comprehensive, linked reporting system that collects and centralizes information on violent deaths, including suicides, from a variety of sources such as medical examiners and coroners, law enforcement and public health officials to create a clearer picture to aid prevention efforts. NVDRS is currently implemented in 17 states.
To have better prevention and treatment options against suicide among older adults, we need better data such as that provided by NVDRS, said Jerry Reed, executive director of the Suicide
Prevention Action Network USA, and a member of the National Violence Prevention Network.
Among the noteworthy characteristics of suicides among adults over the age of 65 found through NVDRS data:
- More than 80 percent of violent deaths among older adults are suicides
- Nearly 85 percent of suicides are men
- Nearly 85 percent occur at home
- More than 60 percent have a physical health problem that family members say likely contributed to their suicide
- More than 45 percent exhibit signs of depression
- More than 25 percent disclosed their intent
NVDRS states, such as Oregon, have used their NVDRS data to inform their suicide prevention plans. With the sixth-highest elder suicide rate in the nation, Oregon used its NVDRS data to develop a profile of victims and establish an elder suicide prevention plan. NVDRS data indicated that most victims of elder suicide in Oregon had been suffering from physical illness, and that 37 percent had visited a doctor in the 30 days prior to their death.
"As a result of NVDRS, we were able to develop an elder suicide prevention plan that calls for better integration of primary care and mental health services, so that potential suicide victims can be better identified and treated," said Lisa Millet, Injury Prevention and Epidemiology Section Manager in the Oregon Department of Human Services, Health Services. "Our plan also calls for training primary health care providers, integrating mental health care into primary care, and educating family members about the risks of suicide and warning signs of depression."
The National Violence Prevention Network (www.preventviolence.net) is working to fully implement NVDRS in the United States to enable every state to design and implement effective violent death prevention programs. While state-specific information provides enormous value to local public health and law enforcement officials, national data from all 50 states, the U.S. territories and the District of Columbia must be obtained to complete the picture and establish effective national suicide prevention policies and programs.
NOTE: To schedule an interview to discuss the National Violence Prevention Network or NVDRS, contact Melanie Fonder at 202-715-1568 or melanie.fonder@dittus.com.
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