Local community intervention through depression screening and group activity for elderly suicide prevention

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Public Health
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Elderly suicide is a significant public health concern, particularly in rural areas.
• Community-based interventions are crucial for addressing suicide risk in aging populations.
• Previous research indicates a need for targeted suicide prevention strategies for elderly women.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a community-based suicide prevention program for individuals aged 65 and older.
• To assess the impact of public health nursing interventions, including depression screening and group activities, on elderly suicide rates.
• To determine if the intervention had localized effects or diffused to surrounding areas.

Main Methods:

• A quasi-experimental design was employed, comparing the Minami district with two neighboring reference areas in rural Japan.
• The intervention, implemented from 1999 to 2004, involved depression screening and group activities conducted by public health nurses.
• Pre- and post-intervention suicide risk was analyzed using incidence rate ratios (IRR) and age-adjusted calculations.

Main Results:

• The suicide risk for elderly females in the Minami district decreased by 74% compared to historical trends (age-adjusted IRR, 0.26; 90% CI, 0.07-0.98).
• No significant reduction in suicide risk was observed for elderly males in the Minami district.
• Suicide risk remained unchanged in both males and females in the neighboring reference areas, indicating a localized effect.

Conclusions:

• Community-based public health nursing interventions, including depression screening and group activities, can be effective in reducing suicide risk among elderly females.
• The positive impact of this intervention was localized to the target community and did not diffuse to surrounding areas.
• Targeted, localized strategies are essential for successful elderly suicide prevention programs.