Deaths due to elderly suicide in Turkey

Background Understanding the dynamics of elderly suicides is of great importance for the development of effective prevention strategies. Aims This study aims to identify the characteristics of elderly suicides and to assess the impact of the pandemic on these incidents. Methods In this study, we retrospectively analysed the suicides of adults aged 65 years and over who died by suicide in Turkey between 01/01/2014 and 31/12/2023 using the data of the Turkish Statistical Institute. Results A total of 4044 elderly suicides were identified. Seventy-five percent of elderly suicide deaths occurred in males. Suicide rates were significantly higher among individuals aged ≥ 75 compared with those aged 65–69 (RR = 1.40, 95% CI: 1.30–1.50) and 70–74 (RR = 1.36, 95% CI: 1.26–1.47). Elderly males had a 3.83-fold higher suicide rate than females (RR = 3.83, 95% CI: 3.56–4.11). Population-adjusted Poisson regression showed that suicide rates increased significantly during the pandemic period compared to the pre-pandemic period (IRR = 1.10, 95% CI: 1.02–1.18). This increase was significant among males (IRR = 1.11, 95% CI: 1.02–1.22) but not females (IRR = 1.02, 95% CI: 0.88–1.19). In the post-pandemic period, suicide rates declined significantly in both males (IRR = 0.91) and females (IRR = 0.84). Hanging was the most common method overall, whereas firearm use and financial difficulties were markedly more frequent among males. Conclusion Elderly suicide rates in Turkey were consistently higher among males and individuals aged ≥ 75 years. The COVID-19 pandemic was associated with a significant, male-driven increase in suicide rates, followed by a post-pandemic decline. These findings highlight the need for age- and gender-specific prevention strategies, particularly during periods of social crisis.