How To Effectively Help With Old Age Suicide Now!
Old age suicide – a major concern
Why is senior suicide such a problem? – The risk factors
-
Being bedridden or severely disabled
-
Retired elderly men who resort to alcohol or heavy drinking
-
Suffering from chronic painful illness
-
Psychiatric illness
-
Social isolation
-
Loneliness
-
Loss of independence
-
Suicide ideation
More crucial factors identified by experts:
-
The fear of becoming a burden on others due to physical illness.
-
The fear of losing independence accompanied by the inability to do things on their own.
-
Social disconnection, either due to change of place or retirement from work or even physical illness.
Depression and senior suicide
This includes several mental disorders.
-
Anxiety disorders
-
Depressive disorders
-
Brain function disorders
-
Schizophrenic disorders.
Warning signs of suicide in the elderly
-
Loss of interest in various activities that one used to enjoy earlier
-
Self-neglect, in terms of personal grooming and medical care
-
Not taking an active interest in social interaction
-
Feeling of hopelessness
-
Crying for no evident reason
-
Losing weight due to loss of interest in food
-
Depressed or sad mood
-
Giving away personal items
-
Insomnia
-
Increased dependence on alcohol or other drugs
-
Experiencing a major loss or expecting to experience one
-
Talking about death
Noticing any of the above-mentioned signs, then you need to follow certainly do’s and don’ts:
Some of the Do’s
-
Take your elderly loved one seriously and DO ask them whether they are sad or depressed or if some grave issue is bothering them.
-
Go ahead and DO ask them directly whether they are planning a suicide. Chances of getting a direct and honest answer are high if you ask them directly. However, you might be afraid and apprehensive about asking them such a question directly; but don’t worry as your asking them would certainly not cause your elderly to actually commit suicide.
-
Once you know their intentions, DO talk to them and ask them to seek professional help for depression and other medical issues.
-
DO ensure them that you are there for them and that they still need to value their life.
-
Lastly, you need to take the necessary steps and remove items that may harm your elderly.
-
Keep a close watch on your elderly (if possible) and spend time with them.
Some of the Don’ts
-
Don’t act shocked. Being shocked is natural, but don’t let your elderly sense it.
-
Don’t argue with your elderly that suicide is certainly not advisable and please do not give them long lectures on the value of life.
-
Don’t keep this a secret. Seek help from professional agencies or experts that can help prevent suicide.
Preventing elderly suicide
-
Universal prevention – This type aims to reduce the risk of suicide in new cases, by skill enhancement and information.
-
Selective prevention – This type focuses on high-risk groups, which usually do not showcase any signs of suicidal intentions, but at the same time are extremely vulnerable to commit suicide. Such high-risk groups include those, who have experienced loss of a partner or other person, retired, elderly suffering from chronic illness or those who are highly disabled.
-
Indicated prevention – This is for those individuals, who clearly demonstrate signs of committing suicide. Candidates for indicated prevention include those elderly who are suffering from a psychiatric illness or those who have clearly expressed their desire to die.
Recognizing the warning signs is usually the first step to prevent suicide. Here are certain take-home points, that can help you prevent suicide in the elderly:
-
If you have the slightest of doubt, that your elderly is planning some suicide attempt, it is advisable that you don’t leave them alone.
-
Be cautious and be on the lookout for various harmful items, such as sharp knives, drugs, etc.
-
If you know some elderly person, who is experiencing active or passive suicidal thoughts, then it is best to contact a medical professional and seek help immediately.