Breathing against suicidal ideation: factors of suicidal attempts in nursing home residents under COVID-19

Abstract

Background: Suicide ideation is sweeping through the older population. As COVID-19 forced nursing homes to implement the severest restrictions, nursing home residents are particularly at risk of suicide ideation due to several interrelated factors. Methods: This qualitative study investigated the protective and risk factors for suicide among nursing home residents as well as their strategies for suicide prevention under the lockdown of COVID-19. A total of ten semi-structured interviews were carried out. Thereafter, we analyzed the interview content following a thematic approach.Results: The experiences of ten nursing home residents with suicidal ideation were classified into three categories, nine sub-themes and twenty seven theme clusters. The three categories included: (a) protective factors for suicide prevention, (b) risk factors for suicide attempts, and (c) strategies for suicide prevention. These factors and strategies were found to be correlated with their suicide ideation and suicide attempts. Conclusion: Factors and strategies influencing suicide ideation and attempts among nursing home residents displayed some new issues and problems under COVID-19. These factors will help both nursing home staff and other health-care providers to understand their life of nursing home residents who have suicide ideation and suicide attempts and improve intervention strategies.