Suicides of 166 Persons 65 Years of Age or Older in Los Angeles County in 2000
| Aged 65–74 (n = 61) n (%) | Aged 75–84 (n = 82) n (%) | Aged 85 and older (n = 23) n (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sex | |||
| Male | 49 (80.3) | 71 (86.6) | 18 (78.3) |
| Female | 12 (19.7) | 11 (13.4) | 5 (21.7) |
| Race | |||
| White | 41 (67.2) | 60 (73.2) | 17 (73.9) |
| Black | 6 (9.8) | 2 (2.4) | 1 (4.3) |
| Hispanic | 8 (13.1) | 9 (11.0) | 2 (8.7) |
| Asian/Pacific islander | 6 (9.8) | 11 (13.4) | 3 (13.0) |
| Marital status | |||
| Married | 23 (37.7) | 38 (46.3) | 7 (30.4) |
| Divorced | 18 (29.5) | 8 (9.8) | 2 (8.7) |
| Widowed | 11 (18.0) | 20 (24.4) | 14 (60.9) |
| Single/separated | 8 (13.1) | 14 (17.1) | 0 (0.0) |
| Unknown | 1 (1.6) | 2 (2.4) | 0 (0.0) |
| Means of death | |||
| Gunshot to head | 32 (52.5) | 41 (50.0) | 8 (34.8) |
| Gunshot to body | 2 (3.2) | 7 (8.6) | 4 (17.4) |
| Hanging | 10 (16.4) | 11 (13.4) | 3 (13.0) |
| Overdose | 8 (13.1) | 7 (8.5) | 4 (17.4) |
| Fall | 2 (3.2) | 4 (4.9) | 1 (4.3) |
| Other | 7 (11.5) | 12 (14.6) | 3 (13.0) |
| Presence of alcohol in body* | |||
| Yes | 5 (8.2) | 5 (6.1) | 3 (13.0) |
| No | 56 (91.8) | 77 (93.9) | 20 (87.0) |
| Place of death | |||
| Home alone | 21 (34.4) | 36 (43.9) | 13 (56.5) |
| Alone in garage | 7 (11.5) | 9 (11.0) | 1 (4.3) |
| Alone in home but person in another room | 16 (26.2) | 17 (20.7) | 6 (26.1) |
| Other location | 17 (27.9) | 20 (24.4) | 3 (13.0) |
| Mental state† | |||
| Depression | 56 (91.8) | 73 (89.0) | 23 (100) |
| Dementia | 1 (1.6) | 1 (1.2) | 0 (0.0) |
| Agitation | 2 (3.3) | 2 (2.4) | 0 (0.0) |
| Alcohol intoxication | 2 (3.3) | 2 (2.4) | 0 (0.0) |
| Psychosis | 0 (0.0) | 1 (1.2) | 0 (0.0) |
| Unknown | 3 (4.9) | 6 (7.3) | 0 (0.0) |
| Presence of physical illness* | |||
| Yes | 45 (73.8) | 69 (84.1) | 18 (78.3) |
| No | 1 (1.6) | 1 (1.2) | 1 (4.3) |
| Unknown | 15 (24.6) | 12 (14.6) | 4 (17.4) |
| Medical history† | |||
| Cancer | 16 (26.2) | 22 (26.8) | 5 (21.7) |
| Cardiovascular | 10 (16.4) | 14 (17.1) | 6 (26.1) |
| COPD | 4 (6.6) | 8 (9.8) | 3 (13.0) |
| Stroke | 4 (6.6) | 7 (8.5) | 3 (13.0) |
| In medical or mental health treatment* | |||
| Yes | 47 (77.0) | 67 (81.7) | 15 (65.2) |
| No | 1 (1.6) | 3 (3.7) | 3 (13.0) |
| Unknown | 13 (21.3) | 12 (14.6) | 5 (21.7) |
| Stressor at time of suicide† | |||
| Physical health | 42 (68.9) | 62 (75.6) | 19 (82.6) |
| Mental health | 37 (60.7) | 46 (56.1) | 12 (52.2) |
| Loss of family member or significant other | 6 (9.8) | 12 (14.6) | 4 (17.4) |
| Loss of friend | 2 (3.3) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (4.3) |
| Financial problems | 6 (9.8) | 1 (1.2) | 0 (0.0) |
| Legal problems | 2 (3.3) | 2 (2.4) | 1 (4.3) |
| Family problems | 4 (6.6) | 5 (6.1) | 1 (4.3) |
| Forced retirement | 2 (3.3) | 1 (1.2) | 0 (0.0) |
| Feeling like a burden | 0 (0.0) | 6 (7.3) | 4 (17.4) |