Influencing Suicide Rates among the Elderly

2019 ◽  
Vol 18 (5-6) ◽  
pp. 757-790
Author(s):  
Angela Louise C. Rosario
Keyword(s):  
The Netherlands ◽  
South Korea ◽  
Public Policies ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Prevention Policies ◽  
Suicide Rates ◽  
The Status ◽  
Scaling Down ◽  
Elderly Suicide

Abstract By focusing on the elderly suicide rates, this study lays out the different suicide regulation and prevention policies of three developed countries – Japan, the Netherlands, and South Korea. The main goal is to compare and analyze how these policies, with disparate ways of handling suicide, influence elderly suicide rates in relation with their countries’ respective differing suicide determinants. By applying the ‘Method for Synthesizing about Public Policies’ created by Morestin, Gauvin, Hogue, and Benoit to check the status of efficiency and of any issues of public policies, it concludes that South Korea shows promise, while Japan’s suicide rates have certainly been scaling down. Conversely, in terms of the use of euthanasia, suicide rates in the Netherlands have been continuously rising.

scholarly journals The relationship between elderly suicide rates, population density and room density

2009 ◽  
Vol 21 (6) ◽  
pp. 1197-1198 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ajit Shah ◽  
Tanuja Sinha ◽  
Rajeswari Makena
Keyword(s):  
Urban Areas ◽  
Elderly Person ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Household Size ◽  
National Study ◽  
Geographical Proximity ◽  
Suicide Rates ◽  
Elderly Suicide ◽  
Extended Households ◽  
Suicidal Plans

A recent cross-national study reported that elderly suicide rates in both sexes were significantly negatively correlated with household size and the percentage of extended households and positively correlated with the percentage of single-person households (Shah, 2009). Speculative explanations for these findings were based on cultural factors, including (i) a mismatch between the traditional dependence of elderly relatives on their children for emotional and financial support and their children's ability to provide this support (Yip et al., 1998, 2000; Liu et al., 2006); (ii) the unmet traditional expectation of the elderly person being able to live with their children or grandchildren (Yip et al., 2000; Liu et al., 2006); (iii) the effect on the elderly of their children's negative attitudes (Yip et al., 2000); (iv) the migration of children to urban areas or to other countries (Yip and Tan, 1998; Yip et al., 2000); and, (v) the number of available caregivers, household size and family size (Kua et al., 2003). Countries with larger household sizes and a greater number of extended households potentially have a greater number of people available within the household and within close geographical proximity who can contribute positively to these cultural issues, and this may ultimately lead to a reduction in elderly suicide rates – the “emotional proximity” explanation. However, there may also be other explanations for these findings (Shah, 2009). Having more people in a household implies that there are more people to identify suicidal ideation and support the suicidal individual in seeking approprate help. Also, in larger households elderly people are likely to be alone for shorter periods of time, which would reduce the opportunity to implement any suicidal plans. Both these possibilities form part of the “geographical proximity” explanation.

scholarly journals Elderly suicide rates: the importance of a non-linear relationship with distal risk and protective factors

2012 ◽  
Vol 24 (9) ◽  
pp. 1363-1367 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ajit Shah ◽  
Ravi Bhat ◽  
Sofia Zarate-Escudero
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Protective Factors ◽  
Population Level ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Risk And Protective Factors ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
National Study ◽  
Detailed Knowledge ◽  
Suicide Rates

The elderly population size is increasing worldwide due to prolonged life expectancy and falling birth rates. Traditionally, suicide rates increase with age. For example, a recent cross-national study of 62 developing and developed countries reported an increase in suicide rates with aging in males and females in 25 and 27 countries respectively (Shah, 2007a). Thus, suicides in the elderly are an important public health concern. While much is known about proximal (individual level) risk and protective factors for elderly suicides (e.g. Conwell et al., 1991; Cattell and Jolley, 1995; Harwood et al., 2001), less is known about more distal (societal or population level) risk and protective factors (Rehkopf and Buka, 2006). Moreover, detailed knowledge of these distal factors may have greater public health relevance for the development of comprehensive prevention strategies (Knox et al., 2004).

Rural and Urban Suicide in South Korea

2012 ◽  
Vol 111 (2) ◽  
pp. 495-497 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. C. Ben Park ◽  
David Lester
Keyword(s):  
South Korea ◽  
Suicide Rate ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Suicide Rates ◽  
Rural And Urban

Suicide rates in 2005 in South Korea were higher in rural areas than in urban areas. Those in rural areas more often used pesticides and chemicals as a method for suicide, and there was a greater proportion of men and the elderly, both groups at higher risk for suicide in South Korea. These three factors may account for the high rural suicide rate in South Korea.

The Impact of Trends in Psychotropic Prescribing on the Method of Suicide in the Elderly

2005 ◽  
Vol 45 (2) ◽  
pp. 115-120 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ajit Shah ◽  
Lubbaba Lodhi
Keyword(s):  
Psychotropic Drugs ◽  
Serotonin Reuptake ◽  
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors ◽  
Prescribing Patterns ◽  
Selective Serotonin ◽  
Hypnotics And Sedatives ◽  
Suicide Rates ◽  
Elderly Suicide

Suicide rates in the elderly have declined in many countries in recent years. This decline has been reported to be associated with increased prescribing of antidepressants, particularly selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), antipsychotics and antimanic drugs and reduced prescribing of barbiturates, hypnotics and sedatives. This study examined the relationship between prescribing patterns of individual psychotropic drugs and suicide rates by specific methods of elderly suicides. There was a negative correlation between the prescription of tricyclic antidepressants, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, antipsychotics, antimanic drugs and non-opiate analgesics and a decline in elderly suicide rates due to poisoning by solid and liquid substances, hanging, strangulation and suffocation, drowning, firearms and explosives, and jumping from high places. There was a positive correlation between the prescription of barbiturates, hypnotics and sedatives and elderly suicide rates due to poisoning by solid and liquid substances, hanging, strangulation and suffocation, drowning, firearms and explosives, and jumping from high places. This study demonstrated that changes in prescribing patterns of individual psychotropic drugs do influence elderly suicide rates of the commonly used methods of suicide and suggest that this may be due to more accurate diagnostic-specific prescribing of psychotropic drugs.

scholarly journals A Comparative Study of the Status of Supportive-Palliative Care Provision in Iran and Selected Countries: Strengths and Weaknesses

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
pouran raeissi ◽  
mohammad salimi ◽  
Seyed-Masoud Hashemi ◽  
nahid Reisi ◽  
seyed ahmad ahmadi
Keyword(s):  
Palliative Care ◽  
Data Collection ◽  
Comparative Study ◽  
Supportive Care ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Training Data ◽  
Care Provision ◽  
Data Collection Tool ◽  
The Status

Abstract Background: Terminally illnesses such as cancer, AIDS, dementia, and advanced heart disease will require special supportive and palliative care, although a few numbers of these patients are provided with these services.Objective: The present study was conducted aiming to perform a comparative study of supportive-palliative care provision in selected countries.Methods: This research was a descriptive-comparative study that its research population was the frameworks of palliative and supportive care provision in Egypt, Turkey, America, Australia, Canada, the Netherlands, and China. These frameworks were compared across 6 dimensions of service receivers, financing, providers, service provider centers, type of services provided and training. Data collection tool has included checklist and information sources, documents, evidence, articles, books and journals collected through the internet and organizations related to the health information of selected countries and by library search. Data was investigated and analyzed using data collection tool and checklists.Findings: The findings showed that the developed countries having decentralized trusteeship structure had a more favorable status in palliative and supportive care provision. The type of services provided was a combination of mental, psychological, social, spiritual, financial, and physical and communication services. Provider centers included hospital, the elderly, and cancer, and charity centers.Conclusion: Regarding the investigation and recognition of the status of supportive-palliative care provision, it was observed that the provision of these services was a concern of the selected countries, but they did not have a defined model or pattern to provide these services. Therefore, it is suggested that each country takes a step to redesign and define frameworks and structures in the evolution of supportive-palliative cares in accordance with the particular conditions, indigenous culture, religion and other effective cases of that country and pays special attention to the role and position of supportive-palliative cares.

scholarly journals Analysis of Characteristics, Methods of Suicide, and Clinical Outcomes in Elderly Suicide Attempters in South Korea by Age Subgroup

2020 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
South Korea ◽  
Clinical Outcomes ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Substance Exposure ◽  
South Korean ◽  
The Third ◽  
Elderly Suicide ◽  
Methods Of Suicide

Introduction: As the elderly comprise 14.3% of the South Korean population, suicide among the elderly has become a significant public concern. Methods: This study retrospectively analyzed data from the Emergency Department-Based Injury In-depth Surveillance nationwide of South Korea. Patients aged ≥ 65years old who intentionally caused self-injury were included. These elderly patients were subdivided into age groups, and their associated characteristics and correlation between suicide attempt methods and the clinical outcomes were analyzed. Results: A total of 5,333 cases were analyzed. The mean age of the subjects was 75.1 years old, comprising 3,039 males (57.0%) and 2,294 females (43.0%). Substance exposure was the most frequent method across all age groups. In terms of risk factors of admission, drowning, hanging, and asphyxia showed the following results: OR 2.372 for the first group; OR 2.224 for the second group; and OR 5.606 for the third group. Fall/slip was identified as a risk factor of admission in the first and second groups (OR 5.016 for the first group; OR 5.101 for the second group). In terms of risk factors of mortality, drowning, hanging, and asphyxia showed the following results: OR 9.066 for the first group; OR 7.320 for the second group; and OR 7.135 for the third group. With regard to fall/slip, the results were OR 14.596 for the first group; OR 10.096 for the second group; and OR 24.167 for the third group. Conclusions: This study showed that clinical outcomes were different according to the suicide-related characteristics and chosen suicide method. Based on these results, it is necessary to prepare measures to prevent suicide of the elderly in the future.

The Status of Elderly People in Nepal

Patan Pragya ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-18
Author(s):  
Gokarna Raj Aryal
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Elderly People ◽  
Elderly Population ◽  
National Development ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Ageing Population ◽  
The Status ◽  
Present Context ◽  
The Government

Elderly citizens are the sources of knowledge, experiences and collections of different ideas in every society or nation. If we use their ability, long experiences and their conscience, our society or nation will be benefitted to reform national development and prosperity. Ageing population is a global phenomenon and the number is rapidly increasing in developing countries as compared to developed countries. The government of Nepal has declared that people with 60 years or more are elderly citizens. The growth rate of the elderly population is faster than that of the total population in Nepal. The observation shows that the proportion of elderly population is high in mountain and hilly regions as compared to Terai. However, it is noted that female elderly population is the highest among three ecological regions. The growing numbers of ageing population is a major concern in most of the developing countries like Nepal. The social, economic and demographic impacts of ageing population possess both opportunities and challenges to every society. In this situation, the Government of Nepal should attempt to enhance the self-reliance and provide social security of its elderly people to facilitate their continuous participation in society. The Government of Nepal has introduced the universal old aged allowances program since 1994/95 as a non-contributing social assistance to elderly citizens with 70 years or more. The starting allowances are nominal. At present context, it is not a sufficient amount for the elderly citizens but they have little support to health care, medicine, entertainment and desired foods and fruits. Likewise, the Government should establish old age homes, day care and ageing centers and parks for entertainment.

Alaska Native Suicide: Lessons for Elder Suicide

1998 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 205-211 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Kettl
Keyword(s):  
Alaska Native ◽  
Social Factors ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Cultural Changes ◽  
Oil Boom ◽  
Suicide Rates ◽  
1960S And 1970S ◽  
Elderly Suicide ◽  
The 1960S ◽  
Cultural Upheaval

Suicide rates in Alaska Native elders are studied to further explore cultural factors in elderly suicide. Data for the 1960s and 1970s are reviewed, and new data on Alaska Native suicide rates are presented for the 10-year period of 1985 through 1994. In many areas throughout the world, suicide rates are highest for the elderly. During the Alaska “oil boom,” suicide rates more than tripled for the general population but decreased to zero for Alaska Native elders. Cultural teachings from the society's elders were more important during this time of cultural upheaval. During the study period, the cultural changes dissipated, and suicide rates for Alaska Native elders, although lower than those of White Alaskans, increased. This provides further evidence that suicide rates for elders can by influenced by social factors—both to raise and to lower rates.

scholarly journals Suicide attempts among the elderly in East Asia

2017 ◽  
Vol 29 (5) ◽  
pp. 707-708 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guk-Hee Suh ◽  
Lina Gega
Keyword(s):  
South Korea ◽  
Suicide Attempts ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
World Health ◽  
Asian Countries ◽  
Suicide Rates ◽  
The World ◽  
The One ◽  
Health Organization

Among the one million suicide deaths worldwide each year, as many as 60% occur in Asia. The World Health Organization (WHO) found higher suicide rates among the elderly in rapidly industrialized Asian countries such as China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, and Singapore, compared to the corresponding rates of recently industrializing Asian countries like Vietnam and Sri Lanka (WHO, 2014). As a case in point, suicide rates in South Korea have been the highest in the world since 2003 and are rising especially among older people (Hong and Knapp, 2014). Suicide attempts and older age are strong predictors of completed suicide (Szanto et al., 2002; Simon et al., 2013) and, as such, are important in guiding our efforts for suicide prevention; however, most epidemiological studies focus on completed suicides across all ages rather than understanding the reasons behind suicide attempts in older populations.

scholarly journals A replication of a non-linear association of educational attainment and suicide rates among the elderly using five-year data

2009 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 339-339 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ajit Shah
Keyword(s):  
Educational Attainment ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
National Study ◽  
Curvilinear Relationship ◽  
Suicide Rates ◽  
Elderly Suicide ◽  
One Year ◽  
Cross National Study ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Cross National

A recent cross-national study demonstrated that the relationship between elderly suicide rates and educational attainment is curvilinear (U-shaped curve) (Shah and Chatterjee, 2008). That study used only one-year data on suicide rates for the latest available year. These findings may have been spurious as suicide rates can randomly fluctuate year on year (Shah and Coupe, 2009). Therefore, this curvilinear relationship was examined using a one-year average of five-year data on elderly suicide rates to establish the accuracy of the earlier findings.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document