National Guidelines for Seniors' Mental Health: The Assessment of Suicide Risk and Prevention of Suicide: May 2006 Book

The Canadian Coalition for Seniors' Mental Health (CCSMH) was established in 2002 with the mission to promote the mental health of seniors by connecting people, ideas and resources. The CCSMH is proud to have been able to facilitate the development of clinical guidelines. These are the first interdisciplinary, national best practices guidelines to specifically address key areas of seniors' mental health. Elderly men have the highest suicide rate in Canada, with a rate of nearly twice that of the nation as a whole. In 2002, Statistics Canada reported that 430 Canadians aged 65 and older died as a result of 'intentional self harm'. It is widely believed that this number is a gross underestimate. Based on available evidence, the CCSMH suicide risk and suicide prevention guideline provides recommendations on: suicide resiliency and risk factors, detection, assessment, diagnosis, treatment and risk management and systems of care.