Part A (Q4): Write a brief note on suicidal tendencies in Older Persons.

The tragic consequence of untreated depression and isolation in the elderly is suicide. Globally, older adults (particularly men over the age of 75) have one of the highest suicide rates of any demographic.

• Risk Factors: The primary drivers are untreated clinical depression, profound loneliness (bereavement), and the onset of a painful, debilitating physical illness. A major psychological trigger is the intense fear of becoming a financial or physical burden on their children or facing institutionalization.
• Lethality: When older people attempt suicide, they are far more likely to die from the attempt than younger people. They use more lethal means, are physically more fragile, and because they are often highly isolated, they are less likely to be discovered in time to be saved. This necessitates urgent, proactive screening by social workers.