In this article, we are going to talk about Elderly suicide prevention. The risk of suicide in the elderly in most cases after the occurrence of severe depression in the elderly has had a sudden and large prevalence. Usually, the risk of suicide increases with increasing age, although age differences in the rate of suicide are different, but it often increases in late adulthood. The World Health Organization announced in 2013 that the elderly around the world are more likely to commit suicide.
The highest rate of suicide in any age group is observed among people aged 65 and older. One of the effective factors in that is depression in the elderly, which is usually not diagnosed or treated. At the very beginning, it is necessary to say that keeping a pet can have a significant effect on the spirit of the elderly. For this purpose, you can read our article about the best pet for senior woman. The higher rate of suicide in men continues in late life, and elderly men commit suicide five times more than elderly women. In the following, we will learn more about the reasons for suicide in middle age and old age.
Cause Of Suicide In the Elderly
Before talking about elderly suicide prevention, we want to know what is the cause of suicide in the elderly? This happens for different reasons. For example, the death of a friend, which caused isolation and loneliness, can be a reason for an elderly person to commit suicide. Also, chronic physical diseases, feeling constant pain and feeling powerless are also among other reasons. Factors such as retirement and loss of independence are also involved in this issue. In addition, the increased risk of suicide is seen more in the elderly with dementia.
In this field, Yale University has conducted research. In this research, scientists investigated the relationship between suicide of the elderly (male and female) and dementia. According to this research, it has been determined that elderly people who are over 65 years old and suffering from dementia are more likely to commit suicide compared to other elderly people. This research has shown that the risk of suicide of the elderly who are between the ages of 65 and 74 years is very high in the first 90 days of dementia.
In these studies, they examined the history of 2 million elderly people, they found that the suicide rate of elderly people with dementia is 53% higher than normal in one year of the onset of this disease. On the other hand, the risk of suicide in the first three months of this disease is very high. According to researchers, the mental health of elderly people with dementia should be monitored continuously. This control can reduce the rate of suicide and death in these ages.
How Is the Elderly Suicide Prevention Method?
Often, people who are in close contact with the elderly mistakenly believe that suicidal symptoms are a natural consequence of the elderly. Elderly suicide victims are 2.5 times more likely to have visited a doctor within a month of taking their own life, and yet their suicide risk has not been diagnosed. If suicidal seniors are depressed, the most effective treatment is a combination of antidepressants and therapy, including helping to cope with role changes such as retirement, widowhood, and other illnesses.
Also, distorted ways of thinking must be neutralized and corrected. Meeting with family members is helpful to find ways to reduce loneliness and despair. If you see warning signs of suicide in an elderly person close to you, inform your doctor and counselor about this important issue, because your elderly person needs immediate help. In case of emergency, you should share this issue with your friends or family members. In the following, we describe other important points related to Elderly suicide prevention.
Important Points Of Elderly Suicide Prevention
If a member of your close family talks to you about suicidal thoughts, consider it important, because people who commit suicide have a specific suicide plan that they will do soon and consider a specific time. You can assess the risk of suicide in the elderly with the following questions:
- Do you have a plan to commit suicide?
- Do you need a tool to do it?
- When do you want to do this?
- Are you planning to end your life?
- Support and help him
If you feel that an elderly person is about to commit suicide, the best way to help him is to listen to him. Tell him that he is not alone and hang out with him. It takes courage to help a person like this; Seeing a loved one talking about ending their life is very difficult and may stir up your emotions, but as you help that person, don’t forget to take care of yourself and be sure to discuss this with a family member, a trusted friend. Or consult a psychologist.
Concluding Remarks
In this article from humanhealthmag, we talked about elderly suicide prevention solutions. To help an elderly person who intends to commit suicide, be sure to seek help from a psychologist and try to encourage the person to accept treatment. Support and care for the elderly or middle-aged person during the treatment period. Be active to help him and keep in touch with him. Try to make positive changes in his life (such as preparing a healthy diet) to prevent suicide in the elderly. for him and encouraging him to sleep and rest as much).
Try not to expose him to stress and anxiety so that he turns to alcohol consumption.
Keep the tools used for suicide such as rope, knife, pills and sharp objects away from him. In case of improvement, after the passage of time, do not withhold your support so that the person does not return to suicidal thoughts.
FAQs
What Are the Warning Signs Of Suicide In the Elderly?
- Study and read about death
- Change in sleep pattern
- Increased alcohol or drug use
- Negligence and failure to follow the doctor’s orders
- Sudden interest in firearms and preparing suicide instruments
- Giving up social activities and staying away from family and friends and preparing a will
What Is Suicide And Why Do People Commit Suicide?
Suicide is actually a conscious decision that a person decides to end his life in which he tries to do it following this decision. It may succeed in this attempt and lead to death, and sometimes not. But he has taken action.
Is Suicide And Its Prevention Important In the Elderly?
This is one of the public health problems in the whole world and all the countries in the world are involved in it. And the World Health Organization has announced that 700,000 people die every year due to suicide. And the number of people who commit suicide and do not die is between 10 and 20 times. The effects of suicide are not limited to the individual. Rather, the family, the people around and the entire social network of the person are affected by this incident.