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Article: Suicide by Elderly Called Avoidable; Treatable Depression Is Cause
- Article from:
- The Washington Post
- Article date:
- August 6, 1996
- Author:
CopyrightThis material is published under license from the Washington Post. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Washington Post. (Hide copyright information)
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Depression, which can generally be treated and reversed, is
the leading cause of suicide among the elderly, according to experts
who testified last week before the U.S. Senate Special Committee on
Aging.
"Tragically, the recognition of depression and initiation of
treatment among elderly suicide victims has been rare," said Jane
Pearson of the Mental Disorders of the Aging Research Branch,
National Institute of Mental Health, in Rockville. But "fortunately,
the groundwork establishing the fact that depression late in life is
not normal, and that it is treatable, is in place."
The July 30 hearing, chaired by Sen. William Cohen (R-Maine),
publicized the problem of elderly suicides, ...