In the community setting, more research on the role of life events, service use, and patterns of depressive symptoms that appear in the elderly should be done. In closing I would like to emphasize that suicide is a multi-dimensional event. We are still unable to adequately predict who will and who won't commit suicide. We do not know enough about what protects people from acting on suicidal thoughts. We do know, however, that most elderly suicide attempts and completions are expressions of extreme distress, and that they rarely occur in the absence of depression.
Suicide is a public health issue of concern for the individual, the family, and the community.
It deserves our full and active attention as researchers clinicians, educators, and public policy makers. The NIH is committed to continue to pursue an aggressive program of research in this area. To return to the APA Division 20 Home Page, click here .