89 Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior 37(1) February 2007  2007 The American Association of Suicidology The Association of Depression and Sense of Belonging with Suicidal Ideation Among Older Adults: Applicability of Resiliency Models Suzanne McLaren, BA(Hons), PhD, Rapson Gomez, BSc(Hons), DipAppChdPsych, MSc, PhD, Maria Bailey BA(Hons), and Renee K. Van Der Horst, BPsych, PostGradDip Psych Suicide among older people, especially men, is a significant problem. In this study the applicability of the compensatory, the risk-protective, the challenge, and the protective-protective models of resiliency for the prediction of suicidal ide- ation from depression (the risk factor) and sense of belonging to the community (the protective factor) was investigated. A total of 351 retired Australians (130 males and 221 females), with a mean age of 71.31 years (SD = 7.99), completed the Zung Depression Scale, the suicide subscale of the General Health Question- naire, and the Sense of Belonging Instrument. When sense of belonging (psycho- logical) was the protective factor, results indicated support for the risk-protective model for men and women, and for the compensatory model for women only. In contrast, when sense of belonging (antecedents) was the protective factor, support was evident for the compensatory model for men and women, and for the chal- lenge model for women only. Results indicate that interventions should be devel- oped to enhance sense of belonging among aging adults. Suicide is a significant mental health issue attempts and completions (Mireault & de Mann, 1996). Identifying predictors of sui- among older adults, particularly males (Pritchard & Hansen, 2005). The most re- cidal ideation in older adults should lead to an improved understanding of suicide risk in cent statistics indicate that the age-standard- ized suicide rate for Australian males is 17.7 this age group. Depression is a key risk factor for sui- per 100,000, which is lower than males aged 65 to 74 years (19.4 per 100,000) and over 75 cidal ideation and suicide completions in older adults (Awata et al., 2005; Preville, years (22.9 per 100,000) (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2004). Research has indicated Boyer, He Bert, Bravo, & Seguin, 2005). A range of factors have been implicated in the that suicidal ideation is a predictor of suicide development of depression among aging peo- ple, including poor physical health (Tsuboi, Fukukawa, Niino, Ando, & Shimokata, Suzanne McLaren, Rapson Gomez, Ma- 2004), income (Schulz, Tompkins, & Rau, ria Bailey, and Renee Van Der Horst are with the School of Behavioural & Sciences & Humani- 1998), disability (Yang, Haley, & Small, ties at the University of Ballarat in Australia. 2002), cognitive impairment (Lockwood, Address correspondence to Dr. Suzanne Alexopoulos, & Kakuma, 2000), and social McLaren, School of Behavioural & Social Sci- support (Besser & Priel, 2005). It is evident, ences & Humanities, University of Ballarat, Uni- however, that not all depressed older people versity Drive, Mt Helen Vic 3353, Australia; E- mail: s.mclaren@ballarat.edu.au suicide or contemplate suicide. It would seem