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Related Experiment Videos

Suicide in the elderly: staying in control

M M Courage1, K L Godbey, D A Ingram

  • 1College of Nursing, University of Florida, Gainesville 32610-0197.

Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services
|July 1, 1993
PubMed
Summary

Elderly individuals often consider suicide as a means to control their end-of-life process. This qualitative study explored their perspectives on death, suicide acceptability, and responses to suicidal thoughts.

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Area of Science:

  • Gerontology
  • Psychiatry
  • Sociology

Background:

  • Suicide is a significant cause of death in the US elderly population (aged 65+).
  • Older adults constituted 12.4% of the population in 1988 but represented 20.9% of reported suicides.
  • Understanding the elderly perspective on suicide is crucial for targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To qualitatively explore the meaning of suicide for the elderly.
  • To understand how suicide becomes a perceived alternative for older adults.
  • To investigate elderly views on end-of-life decisions and suicidal ideation.

Main Methods:

  • Qualitative study design.
  • Exploration of elderly subjects' perspectives on death and suicide.
  • Analysis of data regarding decision-making, acceptability, and responses to suicidal ideation.

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Main Results:

  • Elderly subjects extensively contemplated the end of life, including death planning.
  • Suicide was often viewed as a method to maintain control over the dying process.
  • Data revealed elderly views on who decides death timing, suicide acceptability, and desired responses to suicidal thoughts.

Conclusions:

  • Elderly individuals may perceive suicide as a means of control.
  • Findings highlight the importance of understanding the subjective experiences of suicidal ideation in older adults.
  • Risk factors and causes of suicide in the elderly emerged from the study data.