Depression and suicidal ideation in community-dwelling older adults in Korea

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of depression and suicidal ideation in community-dwelling older adults in Korea, as well as identify factors associated with their occurrence, including cognitive impairment. A cross-sectional study of 484 residents was conducted at a senior centre utilising the PHQ-9K and K-MMSE. Demographic data were also collected for analysis. Of the respondents, 38.1% had symptoms of mild to severe depression. Further, 16.7% reported having suicidal ideation, with 5% of respondents having thoughts of suicide every day. The majority of participants had 'normal' scores on the K-MMSE (88.0%), though significant differences were observed in PHQ-9K scores between cognitive-acceptable and cognitive-impaired groups. Depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation were very prevalent in community-dwelling older adults in Korea. This study indicates the need for the development of communitybased mental health programs tailored to older adults, and demonstrates the viability of promoting early detection of depressive symptoms through senior centres.