[A phenomenological study of suicide attempts in elders]

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Psychiatry
• Sociology

Background:

• Suicide is a significant concern among the elderly population.
• Previous research has not fully explored the subjective experience of suicide attempts in older adults.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the meaning and essence of suicide for elderly individuals who have previously attempted suicide.
• To understand the lived experience of suicide from the perspective of older adults.

Main Methods:

• Descriptive phenomenology using Giorgi's approach.
• In-depth, individual interviews with four elders who attempted suicide within the past five years.
• Utilized open-ended questions and a semi-structured format over 5-10 interviews per participant, supplemented by recordings, memos, and demographic data.

Main Results:

• Identified four core components in the meaning of suicide for older people prior to an attempt: family conflict, powerlessness and despair, a decline in self-esteem, and awareness of an imminent crisis.
• These components highlight the complex interplay of personal, social, and situational factors contributing to suicidal ideation in older adults.

Conclusions:

• The findings enhance the understanding of suicide in older adults by defining their subjective experiences.
• This research provides grounded data for developing targeted intervention strategies and prevention programs for elderly suicide.