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Centre for Policy on Ageing | |
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Age and methods of fatal self harm (FSH)
— is there a link? | | Author(s) | G Tadros, E Salib |
| Journal title | International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, vol 15, no 9, September 2000 |
| Pages | pp 848-852 |
| Keywords | Suicide ; Coroners inquests ; Death rate [statistics] ; Birmingham ; Solihull. |
| Annotation | Methods of fatal self harm (FSH) used by all over 60s were compared with those of all younger adults aged 16-60 in Birmingham and Solihull from 1995 to 1998. The term FSH was applied to all deceased who were subjects of Coroners' inquests attracting suicide or open verdicts. A significantly higher proportion of older people who fatally harmed themselves did so by drowning and asphyxia compared to the younger age group. Significantly more women over 60 committed acts of FSH by tying a plastic bag around the neck than those under 60. Method of death was not ascertained in a much higher proportion of older FSH. The most common methods of suicide for older men and women were hanging and self-poisoning by overdose, respectively. The study did not confirm previous reports that violent methods of FSH are used more frequently with increasing age. Older people, particularly females, tend to select methods that require little physical effort and which are available and accessible. The study raises questions about the quantity of drugs prescribed for older people, such as antidepressants, sedatives and pain killers, especially to those who live alone. (RH). |
| Accession Number | CPA-001107212 A |
| Classmark | EV: JVM: S5: 87E: 87F |
Data © Centre for Policy on Ageing |
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| ...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing. |
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