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Abstract
Suicide is the eighth leading cause of death in the United States, representing a significant public health problem. The elderly are substantially overrepresented in prevalence rates, accounting for 20 percent of the nation's population. This essay will: (1) present an overview of the major demographic, social and psychological factors involved in suicide among the elderly, (2) briefly discuss the theoretical underpinnings of the study of suicide, (3) address the ethical dilemmas of clinical practice with suicidal elderly, and (4) offer implications for social work practice and suggestions for future research. This paper has important practice implications as it will promote a thorough understanding of suicide among the elderly and discuss strategies for effectively addressing this significant health issue within the context of social work.