The Widowhood Effect and Elderly Suicide

When I was a psychology student in college, one fact remained with me. When an older couple loses a spouse, the other may soon follow. The loss of both spouses does not occur each time but it is does happen. In my own life, I have seen several cases where one spouse dies and another follows soon after. What factors contribute to the death of the second spouse? What can be done to prevent both parts of the couple from losing their lives?

The elderly begin with a disadvantage. The rate of suicide among the elderly, especially white men is such that there is one elderly suicide every 100 minutes. One reason for this high rate of suicide among the elderly is depression. A stigma continues to exist against mental illness and causes many of those who need treatment not to seek it.

It is possible the person feels as though he or she has done nothing productive with life-a psychosocial crisis called Integrity versus Despair named by famed psychologist Erikson. Integrity versus Despair is a stage those about the age of 60 enter. If successfully passed, depression is not a problem.

The cause of the depression could be loneliness particularly when a spouse who has long been there dies. When a person has children and they grow into adulthood they have their own responsibilities that take time. The elderly person finds his or her self alone. Depression is allowed to feed on itself making the situation worse.

Physical illness may be a culprit in the elderly person's likelihood of committing suicide. Sometimes retirement or another change in a social role may be a trigger for taking one's own life.

The recent death of a loved one is another fact placing the elderly person at risk of taking one's life. When one spouse dies, the other may have an idea of ending his or her own pain by committing suicide and believing he or she will again be with the loved one.

Death soon following a spouse's death has a name, "the widowhood effect." The widowhood effect is large among the white population. When a spouse dies, men are eighteen percent more likely to die following their wives' deaths while women are 16 percent more likely to die following their husband's deaths. This pattern does not seen to be the case with black couples.

It is no secret marriage has beneficial effects. For black couples, the beneficial effects may be more likely to continue even during the bereavement process.

The widowhood effect has been around for many years. Whether a spouse's death causes the person to commit suicide, their health to worsen to the point of death, or some other cause it is not uncommon for two elderly spouses to die during the same year. My husband's great-great-great grandparents died two months apart. The couple who owned our house in the 1960's died less than one month apart. Recently a couple named James and Lolie Bracken died after one night spent together in a nursing home.

The elderly person contemplating taking his own life may leave warning signs. These signs are typical to anyone who is considering taking his or her own life. Warning signs include: statements about death and suicide, reading material about death and suicide, statements of helplessness, failure to follow medical orders, stockpiling medications, and overt threats. If you suspect someone is considering suicide it is best to try to speak openly with them about the problem and if so notify an authority figure.

Sometimes death of the remaining spouse follows the first by means out of our control such as the Bracken couple. To live together and die together I think is every happy couple's dream but for those who need help in the mourning process we should be there.