Abstract
Suicide rates are highest in older populations. Worldwide, the number of suicides for men over age 75 is twice that of younger men [1]. This population frequently suffers from physical ailments, psychiatric illness, and loneliness, which are all associated with greater suicide risk. In general, for every 12 suicide attempts made, one is completed; however, in those over 75, for every four suicide attempts made, one is completed [1]. Older men are frequently more determined to die compared to other demographic populations [2]. High lethality of their suicide attempt in conjunction with their fragile physical state contributes to the high suicide rates. These staggering suicide rates can possibly be lowered by properly teaching and educating healthcare professionals.
One reason the geriatric population has the highest rates of suicide is that professionals are not trained to recognize warning signs. Older patients are less likely to visit a mental health care provider and are mainly treated by primary care physicians [3]. It is important for all medical professionals to be appropriately trained. Clinicians must remember to listen carefully to the patient. Not paying appropriate attention to complaints or not knowing what warrants attention can keep clinicians from recognizing possible signs of psychiatric illness or heightened suicide risk.
It is important to recognize the earliest signs of suicidality as there may only be one chance to intervene. Clinicians should be trained to recognize verbal warning signs. When patients talk about being a burden, not ‘belonging’ in their environment, or feeling useless, clinicians should understand that suicide may be regarded as a ‘solution’ to alleviating this perceived burden [4]. Lastly, clinicians should encourage older people to tell stories of their life allowing them to reconnect to real experiences, tasks, and goals they once had in an attempt to show them that being older is another ‘stage’ of their life and not just another condition they must deal with. Having conversations that include each of these components can be tedious if not structured or practised. This interaction should feel very natural so that the patient feels at ease. Observational learning, role playing, and supervised training sessions would be good ways to ensure that this interaction be performed as effectively as possible.
Medical professionals need to be taught the importance of community involvement with regard to preventative efforts. Older patients like personal, face-to-face contact, which is why programs that are predominantly implemented in person are best. An effective prevention method is to train community members to identify elders at risk [5]. Although this takes a lot of time and effort, this is a good way to target those at risk, since often times older individuals create friendships and disclose personal information to those they frequently come into contact with, whether they are trained professionals or not. Once medical professionals recognize the prevalence of this problem, master the screening process, and involve the community in preventative efforts, fewer older patients will fall through the cracks because they were unnoticed in their indirect cries for help.