Recent trends in elderly suicide rates in a multi-ethnic Asian city

BACKGROUND: There are a few reports on the trends of elderly suicide rates in western countries but none from Asian countries. OBJECTIVES: To describe the trends of elderly suicide rates of Chinese, Malays and Indians in Singapore from 1991 to 2000. DESIGN: Data obtained from the National Department of Statistics were used in the analysis of sex- and age-standardized suicide rates and relative risks. RESULTS: Overall, the suicide rates for the elderly showed a decline from 40.1 per 100,000 in 1990 to 17.8 per 100,000 in 2000, with the most pronounced decline occurring from 1995 to 2000. The suicide rate for elderly Chinese was at a peak of 52 per 100,000 in 1995 and declined to 20 per 100,000 in 2000. The rates for elderly Malays were consistently low at 2.2 per 100,000 for the 10 years; for elderly Indians the rates were between the other two ethnic groups. CONCLUSION: In the 10-year period, the elderly suicide rates in Singapore declined markedly, especially for elderly Chinese.