Academic Research—

Strategies to Expand Services

Mobilizing the Community to Prevent Older Adult Suicide

Older adults are at an elevated risk for suicide. A comprehensive framework for preventing older adult suicide should include knowledge about risk factors, a theoretical basis that explains the high prevalence of older adult suicide, and a transdisciplinary prevention strategy that shares responsibility for suicide prevention among professional and lay members of the community. The article introduces a community-based suicide prevention strategy that employs health and mental health professionals, aging sector professionals, caregivers, and older adults to recognize and respond to older adults who may be in distress.