Australian men aged over 85 have the highest suicide rate in Australia, and more than double that of teenagers, Australian Bureau of Statistics 2015 data shows.

Key points: Suicide rate for men aged 85 and older was 39.3 per 100,000 males

Suicide rate for men aged 85 and older was 39.3 per 100,000 males Among males aged 15-19 the rate was 11.8

Among males aged 15-19 the rate was 11.8 Overall among both males and females suicide rates were higher in older age groups

The suicide rate for men aged 85 and older was 39.3 per 100,000 people. In women of the same age, it was 5.7.

Among males aged 15-19 years old the suicide rate was 11.8 deaths per 100,000 people, but suicide accounted for 28.6 per cent of all deaths in that age group.

The highest female suicide rate was within the 45-49 year age group, at 10.4 deaths per 100,000. The lowest death rate for females was among those aged 65-69 years — 4.5 deaths.

Monash University Professor Paul Komesaroff said a lack of support was partly to blame for poor mental health in many older Australians.

"Elderly people have often been blamed for soaking up disproportionate quantities of our healthcare resources," he said.

"This has become a harsher and crueller society over the years.

"There's been a reduction in the support that has been made available for elderly people."

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He said many older Australians had a mindset that not being as productive as they once were meant they had little to live for.

"They may well express to their doctor the view that they don't want care to be prolonged," he said.

"Not because they fear losing their capabilities or their capacities, but because they don't want to impose on the rest of society, it's their sense of responsibility.

"And of course that's a terrible tragedy because these are the people who have actually created the wealth."

Age-specific death rates for Intentional self-harm, by sex, 2015 ( Australian Bureau of Statistics )

Stoicism and pride have their downsides

Professor Henry Brodaty, from the Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing, said many elderly people had what he called "passive suicide thoughts" such as "I would be quite happy if I didn't wake up in the morning".

He said he was also concerned about the stoicism and pride of the so-called "greatest generation".

"They're less likely to see a psychologist, they're less likely to receive psychological treatments," he said.

"If they do see a doctor for their depression they're more likely to receive medication for that.

"Older people are much more likely to be in pain, which is a risk factor for dementia.

"They're more likely to be isolated and bereaved, which is another risk factor."

And he said many elderly people were particularly reluctant to enter nursing homes.

"They feel that their life is not very full and they even feel imprisoned at times, but feel they have no other options for their care," he said.

Nursing homes 'should be more like a hotel'

But within many migrant cultures, Professor Brodaty said it was common for the children of elderly migrants to insist on looking after them in their own homes.

"Some of my patients are Greek patients, or Chinese patients for example — the bonds of kinship, or filial duty, are very strong," he said.

"In many cultures there's a shame incurred if you put your person into a home — even if you use services and bring services into the home."

However, Professor Brodaty said there was no evidence that going to a nursing home worsened mental health for the elderly.

But he said improving conditions in facilities could help their mental health.

"One of the things in nursing homes that we've been strongly advocating for is this whole notion of person-centred care, where we treat the person as a person, try and respect their rights and their wishes," he said.

"As if you were going to a resort hotel and you had a menu of activities you would like to do — you have options of when you want to eat, what you want to do and where you want to do.

"Rather than everyone being regimented to get up at a certain time, be showered, be fed, be sat in the day room with all the other residents."