TABLE 1—

Characteristics of Firearm and Nonfirearm Suicides, by Elderly Status: United States, 2005–2008

	Nonfirearm		Firearm
	Aged < 65 Years (n = 14 161)	Aged ≥ 65 Years (n = 1231)	Aged < 65 Years (n = 12 892)	Aged ≥ 65 Years (n = 3366)
Age-adjusted rate (per 100 000)a	5.7	4.0	5.1	10.4
Characteristics of suicide victims, %b
Current mental health problem	52.7	51.3	38.2	29.8
Ever in mental health treatment	48.9	43.9	33.5	25.3
History of suicide attempt	29.9	19.3	13.8	5.5
Physical health problem	15.4	46.5	16.1	66.1

Note. No differences were noted between persons younger than 65 years and those aged 65 years or older regarding current depressed mood, left suicide note, disclosed intent to commit suicide, and suicide of a friend or family member in the past 5 years. A lower proportion of those aged 65 years or older (vs < 65 years) had a current mental health problem, current mental health treatment, ever been treated for mental illness, history of suicide attempt, crisis in the past 2 weeks, intimate partner problem, other relationship problem, alcohol dependence, other substance problem, recent criminal legal problem, other legal problems, job problem, financial problem, and perpetrated interpersonal violence in the past month. A higher proportion of those aged 65 years or older (vs < 65 years) had a physical health problem and a nonsuicide death of friend or family.

^aCenters for Disease Control and Prevention, 2005–2007.²⁶

^bCenters for Disease Control and Prevention, 2005–2008.²⁷ These percentages are based on suicides for which circumstances could be determined from official sources.