Elder Suicide - Know the Warning Signs

Quiet Acknowledgment is Powerful: Rethinking Suicide Prevention for Older Adults

By Dr. Tyshawn J. Thompson, Clinical Psychologist, Montefiore-Einstein Psychiatry Associates 

Bronx Voice 

August 21, 2025

NEW YORK - Despite continued awareness and prevention efforts, suicide remains a leading cause of death in the U.S. Many conversations about suicide risk focus on youth and middle-aged populations, while older adults tend to go unnoticed - but they are an important group to consider. 

Sadly, death by suicide is highest for men older than 75 years. Older adults can face many factors that increase their risk for suicidal thoughts and actions including: feelings of loneliness, social isolation, grief, family discord, new cognitive and physical deficits, financial strain, and institutionalization. 

Recently, I had a conversation with a close family member who shared feelings of anxiety and a fear of losing control during airplane travel. Like many in the Bronx, they immigrated to the U.S. from Jamaica. This was truly the first time I can recall them explicitly speaking about mental health. While it was quiet acknowledgment, I reflected on their growing comfort with mental health language and expression, and how their concerns probably remained unspoken for most of their life. They were born in the 1940s, and conversations about emotional struggles were uncommon among folks in their Black community. 

Stigma and cultural beliefs can make it daunting to speak about these topics, but with trust and support many people will begin to share their feelings. As a clinical psychologist and close family member, I believe they saw me as supportive and non-judgmental enough to open up, albeit casually. This moment underscored the importance of rapport and cultivating trust, especially within our personal relationships. 

You too can support an older adult in your family or community by:

1. Being a safe, non-judgmental listener. Listen to what they share and support their disclosure acknowledging their feelings and experiences.

2. Help them maintain their dignity, agency, and autonomy. Offer simple support with tasks that enables and encourages them to contribute to the family or community. If they can no longer do errands but still enjoy cooking, help them get ingredients for meals.

3. Advocate for them in areas when they may feel invisible. Accompany them to doctors’ appointments and different social events. Help them with technology (i.e. social media, texting). Support in these areas can help them feel seen and cared for. 

4. Spend quality time with them to combat feelings of burdensomeness and loneliness. Schedule weekly or monthly catch-up time, validating their importance rather than always asking them to reach out. 

5. Promote healthy behaviors such as exercise and a clean-living environment. Help them with household chores as our environments are meaningful for mental health. Support their efforts to remain physically active. 

6. Remain aware of cultural beliefs and stigma affecting their willingness to seek help. It’s important to start by validating the cultural belief or stigma. Then, provide information to help build their own awareness of how their beliefs and stigma may be keeping them from a healthier life. Empower them!