Those who talk about suicide rarely actually do it. Most community agencies do not recognize the problem and consequently do little or no screening for it among their clientele. Most elder suicide victims either live with relatives or are in regular contact with family or friends. This implies that depression is more a factor than social isolation. Prevention must focus on what drives suicide.
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Secondary prevention - intervention with a particular individual at some point in the suicidal process. Tertiary prevention - intervention with suicide attempters. Decreasing elder suicide involves reducing the number of individuals who become suicidal. We would add a fourth level, the organizational, for community agencies. Opposing Viewpoints 126-130.