When news broke that publisher, philanthropist and former diplomat Philip Merrill had apparently killed himself, many expressed disbelief that a man who showed such vitality would take his own life.
However, according to experts, he was part of the demographic group most prone to suicide.
Older white men are the most at-risk group for suicide, said John McIntosh, a psychology professor of at the University of Indiana at South Bend and an expert on gerontology and suicidology.
McIntosh pointed to three main factors that lead to suicide: Health, income and social support.
Older people who recently lost a spouse or feel financially unstable are at a higher risk for suicide. People older than 65 who have health problems are also vulnerable to suicide, especially if they cannot be as active as they once where, he said.
People who have undergone heart surgery are also at increased risk for depression.
They may become depressed because of the stress associated with cardiovascular disease or the fear of mortality, said Harry A. Brandt, head of the department of psychiatry at St. Joseph Medical Center in Baltimore. He said there are also biological links between cardiovascular disease and depression.
“It appears people who are depressed have a higher likelihood of developing coronary artery disease,” Brandt said.
People with depression have decreased heart-rate variability, which is known as a risk factor for cardiac mortality, he said. Depression is also known to activate blood platelets so they become sticker and prone to cluster, choking the blood supply to the heart.
The alpha and beta blockers commonly taken by heart patients can also cause depression and confusion, said Earl Goldberg, assistant professor of psychiatric nursing at LaSalle University.
If family members of an older man notice changes in weight or sleeping patterns, they should urge him to consult a doctor immediately, McIntosh said. Family members should also not be afraid to ask directly if their loved one is contemplating suicide.
“Most of the time people do talk about how they are feeling,” McIntosh said.
