This instructional module emphasizes that depression and suicide are real problems for elderly people, shows how depression and suicidal thoughts can arise in older people, and describes interventions that can be used. Chapter 1 presents an introduction and overview of elderly suicide and includes sections on the plight of the elderly, community attitudes toward elderly depression and suicide, life and suicide in a nursing home, statistics on suicide, cohort effects, and elderly suicide in the future. Chapter 2 looks at the prevalence of elderly depression; definitions and etiologies of depression; theories of depression; learned helplessness; endogenous and exogenous depression; neurotic and psychotic depression; difficulties in diagnosis; senility; medication; alcohol; and depression in nursing homes. The third chapter presents interventions in elderly depression, including the development of a therapeutic relationship; psychotherapy; and cognitive behavior, supportive, behavior, family systems, group, and drug therapies. The fourth chapter examines and defines elderly suicide; presents models and theories of suicide; and considers issues of assessment of suicide risk and lethality. Chapter 5 presents interventions in elderly suicide and includes an example of a suicide program. Chapter 6 considers ethical and legal issues such as competency, the rights of the family, types of guardianship, and informed consent. Relevant materials are appended. (NB)