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NCLEX · General

Which population has the HIGHEST documented risk for suicide in the United States?

Correct answer

Elderly white males — men aged 75 and above have the highest suicide rate of any demographic group in the United States; older white males who are recently widowed, socially isolated, or have chronic illness are at particularly elevated risk

  1. A Adolescent females
  2. B Middle-aged white males
  3. C Elderly white males — men aged 75 and above have the highest suicide rate of any demographic group in the United States; older white males who are recently widowed, socially isolated, or have chronic illness are at particularly elevated risk
  4. D Military veterans only

Why this is the answer

SUICIDE RISK BY DEMOGRAPHIC (CDC data): Overall highest rate: men (4× higher than women); By age and race: White men have the highest rates across most age groups; Elderly white males 75+ have the highest absolute rate of any demographic group; RISK FACTORS: Social isolation; recent loss (spouse, independence); chronic illness or pain; access to lethal means (firearms); alcohol use; depression (often unrecognised and undertreated in older men who see help-seeking as weakness); PROTECTIVE FACTORS: Social connectedness; religious affiliation; reason for living (grandchildren); engagement with healthcare. VETERANS: Also at elevated risk (20 veteran suicides per day) but not the highest-rate demographic as a whole; firearm access is a specific risk factor in this population. LPN ROLE: Depression screening at every encounter with high-risk populations; involve social work; assess for means access.
Source: NCLEX-PN HP — Community Health, Suicide Risk Demographics

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