Suicide among the Danish elderly: now and in years to come.

The growing number of elderly people is causing concern in most western countries, and the fear is being expressed that the changing age distribution of the population might eventually lead to increasing frequencies of suicide among old people. The authors discuss the developments in the age distribution of the Danish population and forecasts for the frequency of suicide among the elderly. The presumption that rates of suicide among the elderly will go up is questioned by pointing to the fact that the alleged dysfunctions caused by the growth in the population of elderly people may at least to some extent be counterbalanced by the fact that a new "type" of elderly person appears to be entering the stage.