Older people are vulnerable to many socio-economic determinants of suicide including loneliness and isolation, chronic pain, financial insecurity, and grief.
Older Australians are a diverse group, with different cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds, life experiences, and lifestyles. They generally include those aged 65 years and over. Older people also make up a considerable proportion of Australia’s population – on 30 June 2023, almost 1 in 6 people (17%) were aged 65 years and over (ABS 2024).
As people get older, they may become more vulnerable to certain risk factors for suicide and self-harm. For instance, suicidality is associated with loneliness, social isolation, and perceived burdensomeness in older people. In contrast, strong social support, community engagement and maintaining physical health are protective factors against suicide and self-harm.