OLDER MEN AND WOMEN

Some features of older men and women

Along with risk factors, these are features of older men and women that you may need to consider.

• Living in areas with a higher male population
• Living in areas with a higher proportion of tenant household dwellers
• Living in areas with a higher proportion of immigrants from North-West Europe[1]
• Loss of a partner
• Isolation and social disconnectedness^[2]
• Depression (although the contribution of mental health disorders is less than in the younger age groups
• Cultural Issues
• Poor coping skills
• Low sense of self[4]
• Ill health
• Alcoholism
• Carer stress
• Loss of former functioning

 Additionally for this age group

• High numbers of suicide occur, however other causes of death dominate
• Impulsivity is less of a factor
• Suicide is more calculated; less opportunities for rescue
• Suicidal thinking is less common but, when it does occur, it indicates a high risk of suicide
• Few suicides occur in the context of terminal physical illness and these suicides may be influenced by depression¹

Useful contacts for older men and women

• Alcoholics Anonymous www.aa.org.au/   Phone: 1300 222 222
• Beyond Blue www.beyondblue.org.au Phone: 1300 224 636 (24 hours)
• Carers Australia www.carersaustralia.com.au Phone: 1800 242 636
• Dept. of Veterans Affairs www.dva.gov.au/  Phone: 1800 555 254
• Elder Abuse Prevention Unit  www.eapu.com.au/  Helpline, Phone: 1300 651 192
• FNQ Suicide Prevention Taskforce suicidepreventionfnq.org.au/ 
• Head to health - information on mental health issues, resources and services https://headtohealth.gov.au
• Lifeline:  www.lifeline.org.au/    Phone: 13 11 14 (24 hours)
• Men’s Helpline   www.mensline.org.au  Phone: 1300 789 978 (24 hours)
• My Aged Care http://www.myagedcare.gov.au/getting-started/health-conditions/mental-health     Phone: 1800 200 422
• Older Persons Mental Health Service https://www.health.qld.gov.au/cairns_hinterland/html/opmhs Phone: (07) 4226 5266
• Veterans Families Counselling Service www.vvcs.gov.au    Phone: 1800 011 046 (24 hours)

[1]Law, C., Kolves, K. & De Leo, D. (2016). Influences of population-level factors on suicides in older adults: a national ecological study from Australia. Geriatric Psychiatry, 31, 388-395.

[2] Almeida, O. P., Draper, B., Snowdon, J., Lautenschlager, N. T., Pirkis, J., Byrne, G., Sim, M., Stocks, N., Flicker, L., & Pfaff, J. J. (2012). Factors associated with suicidal thoughts in a large community study of older adults. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 201, 466-472.

[3] Slade, T., Johnston, A., Teesson, M., Whiteford, H., Burgess, P., Pirkis, J., & Saw, S. (2009). The Mental Health of Australians 2. Canberra, Australia: Department of Health andAgeing.

[4] Canetto, S.S. (2017). Suicide: Why are older men so vulnerable? Men and Masculinities, 20(1), 49-70. doi: 10.1177/1097184X15613832

[5] Conwell, Y., Duberstein, P. R., & Caine, E. D. (2002). Risk factors for suicide in later life. Biological Psychiatry, 52(3), 193-204.