Giving up or finding a solution? The experience of attempted suicide in later life

Older people constitute one of the highest risk groups for suicide. Existing research in this area has been largely dominated by a risk factor approach. This is of limited usefulness since only a minority of those at risk go on to make an attempt. Therefore, prediction, prevention and the management of risk remain challenging. The present study aimed to capture the subjective experience of older people who had recently made a suicide attempt through exploring their understanding of the pathway to and from this attempt, within the context of ageing. Fifteen participants were interviewed. Transcripts were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Three broad themes emerged--Struggle (experiencing life as a struggle before and after the attempt, and in relation to growing older), Control (trying to maintain control over life before the attempt, and following it either failing or succeeding to regain control) and Visibility (feeling invisible or disconnected from others and trying to fight against this before the attempt and either becoming more or less connected afterwards). Risk factors identified in the literature were often absent or construed by participants as not relevant to their attempt. Individual accounts highlight the diversity and complexity of experience of older people who attempt suicide.