Crime & Safety

Suicide of 2 Elderly Residents Reported Monday

A man and a woman in the Emmaus area both died of suicide on Monday, according to the Lehigh County Coroner.

Susan Koomar, Patch StaffVerified Patch Staff Badge
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Two Emmaus-area residents over the age of 70 committed suicide on Monday, according to the Lehigh County Coroner:

  • A woman, 77, of Upper Milford Township, was pronounced dead in her home at 8:11 a.m.
  • A man, 74, of Emmaus, was pronounced dead in his home at 8:45 a.m.
The deaths highlight a topic that is not often reported on: suicide among the elderly.

While the elderly make up 13 percent of the population, they account for 19 percent of suicides, according to a website called Fierce Goodbye.

Untreated depression is a serious problem among the elderly:
  • 66%-90% of elderly suicides have at least one psychiatric diagnosis. 
  • As many as 75% of depressed older Americans are not receiving the treatment they need, placing them at an increased risk of suicide.
Suicide among the elderly can be linked to social disconnection, fear of becoming a burden and loss of ability to function in daily life, according to a New York Times article.

The National Suicide Prevention Hotline is 1-800-273-8255.



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