If we can better understand why people kill themselves, it should be possible to reduce suicide rates. The major aim of this article is to consider whether any factors associated with higher rates of suicide in old age are amenable to preventive interventions.

It is said that epidemiology is the basic science of prevention. Multiple interacting factors contribute to the causation of suicide, though commonly, in the individual case, a single circumstance or condition can be identified as the major precipitant of suicidal behaviour. Cross-sectional studies may reveal factors that correlate with high suicide rates in particular populations, while long-term studies can show associations between changes in suicide rate and in socio-environmental conditions.