Self-injury and suicide attempt among the elderly population in the city of São Paulo

Abstract

Objective: In this perspective, the present research aims to describe the reports of self-injury and suicide attempt among the elderly population living in the city of São Paulo. Methods: This is a descriptive, quantitative approach based on Violence and Accidents Surveillance Information System (SIVVA) of the city of São Paulo. In the selection of notifications, it was included the ones related to self-injury and attempted suicide against men and women, with age group between 60 and over, from January to December 2014 in the city of São Paulo, Southeastern Region of Brazil. Results: During 2014, 93 cases of self-injury and attempted suicide were reported among elderly people living in the city of São Paulo. The main instruments used by the elderly population in the analyzed period were poisoning (41.9%), other means (34.4%), cold weapon (15.1%), high precipitation places (4.3%), hanging or suffocation (3.2%), and firearm (1.1%). Conclusion: From the results of this study it was possible to characterize some specific aspects related to self-injury and suicide attempt among elderly in the evaluated population. Therefore, developing a strategy to promote effective prevention actions and offer specialized services to most risk groups (brown races, people with lower levels of education, and males). RESUMOObjetivo: Nesta perspectiva, a presente pesquisa tem como objetivo descrever os casos de autoagressão e tentativa de suicídio entre a população idosa residente na cidade de São Paulo. Métodos: Esta é uma abordagem descritiva e quantitativa baseada no Sistema de Informação para Vigilância de Violências e Acidentes (SIVVA) da cidade de São Paulo. Na seleção das notificações, foram incluídos os relacionados à autoagressão e à tentativa de suicídio contra homens e mulheres, com faixa etária entre 60 e mais, de janeiro a dezembro de 2014 na cidade de São Paulo, Região Sudeste do Brasil. Resultados: Durante o ano de 2014, 93 casos de autolesão e tentativa de suicídio foram notificados em pessoas idosas residentes na cidade de São Paulo. Os principais instrumentos utilizados pela população idosa no período analisado foram envenenamentos (41,9%), outros meios (34,4%), arma branca (15,1%), locais de alta precipitação (4,3%), suspensão ou sufocação (3,2%) e arma de fogo (1,1%). Conclusão:Com os resultados deste estudo, foi possível caracterizar alguns aspectos específicos relacionados a autoagressão e tentativa de suicídio entre os idosos na população estudada. Portanto, faz-se necessário desenvolver uma estratégia para promover ações de prevenção eficazes e oferecer serviços especializados para a maioria dos grupos de risco (raça parda, pessoas com níveis mais baixos de educação e homens). Palavras-chaveIdosos, tentativa de suicídio, saúde mental, prevenção e controle.

Self-harm in older adults: systematic review

“…The remaining 0.2% ( n = 110) of participants used multiple methods to self-harm. The majority of studies reporting self-harm methods were in hospital-based settings, with the exception of four studies 32 , 47 , 57 , 58 that also reported community-based data. However, similar trends regarding self-harm methods used were reported across the different study settings as reported in Table 1.…”

“…The remaining studies were conducted in other healthcare facilities (e.g. general hospitals, general practice, private clinics) ( n = 2), 57 , 58 community mental health services ( n = 2), 32 , 50 a national surveillance system which includes presentations from hospitals and primary care 47 and a national household survey 56 . Study length varied from 8 months to 26 years.…”

“…Nine studies 24 , 29 , 35 , 36 , 40 , 47 , 48 , 56 , 57 made a classification of individuals according to age range ( n = 51 174): 60% ( n = 31 072) of participants were aged 60–74 years old. Eleven studies 22 , 28 , 29 , 31 , 32 , 40 , 47 , 53 – 56 classified participants according to ethnicity ( n = 6573), with the majority of participants being White (68.1%, n = 4479) and 13.3% ( n = 875) were of other ethnicities (Black, Asian, Hispanic or Maori). The ethnicity of the remaining 18.6% ( n = 1219) of participants was unknown.…”

“…Country of origin of the included studies were mainly Englishspeaking countries (n = 21). However, 17 studies [40][41][42][43][44][45][46][47][48][49][50][51][52][53][54][55][56] were from non-English-speaking countries, with 16 different countries being represented. Two were multi-site studies across Europe, including both English-and non-English-speaking countries.…”

“…Age of participants ranged from 60 to 112 years. Nine studies 22,28,29,31,32,40,47,[53][54][55][56] classified participants according to ethnicity (n = 6573), with the majority of participants being White (68.1%, n = 4479) and 13.3% (n = 875) were of other ethnicities (Black, Asian, Hispanic or Maori). The ethnicity of the remaining 18.6% (n = 1219) of participants was unknown.…”