On its “Weekend Edition Saturday” program, NPR (7/27, Axelrod, Balaban, Simon) delved into the topic of suicides among the elderly. NPR wrote, “Of the more than 47,000 suicides that took place in 2017, those 65 and up accounted for more than 8,500 of them, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.” Men aged “65 and older face the highest risk of suicide, while adults 85 and older, regardless of gender, are the second most likely age group to die from suicide.” Mental health experts interviewed by NPR expressed concern about the trend. Studies have shown that “one out of four senior citizens that attempt suicide dies, compared to one out of 200 attempts for young adults.” Bereavement, loneliness, pain, and age-related diseases may all play a role in elders’ susceptibility to suicide.(SOURCE: APA Headlines)