Warning Signs of Elderly Suicide and Factors Affecting Professional Help-Seeking: Case of Sri Lanka

Abstract

Though the suicide rate is remarkably high among older persons in many countries, seeking external assistance in dealing with suicidality is infrequent. Against this background, the objectives of this paper are twofold: to identify possible depressive signs and suicide warnings exhibited by older people before the act of suicide, and to examine the factors affecting the help-seeking behavior of older people who die by suicide. The study revealed that angry outbursts, sleep disturbance, isolation, reduced speaking, and thoughts of the meaninglessness of life are the significant possible signs of depression. However, only a few older persons directly expressed early warnings such as ‘talking about death or suicide.’ Yet, it seems that family members are unaware of the early warning signs. The study found four significant factors that limit the help-seeking behavior of older people dealing with suicidality: a weak social network, poor understanding of depressive and suicidal signs by family members, negative attitudes relating to old age culture, and a crisis of personal perspectives in help-seeking. We conclude that promoting mental health services to older persons and improving their help-seeking behavior in response to various life stressors would help prevent suicide in the older population.

To What Extend the Social Assistance Smart Application Can Be Monitored Sustain Environmentally and Inclusive? Case Study: Elderly and Vulnerable People

“…The 2020 budget allocation increased sharply, reaching more than three times the 2019 budget, namely IDR 4.1 billion. 34 Unfortunately, the 2020 budget allocation could not be fully realized because part of the budget was diverted to meet the urgent needs of 45 regions in line with the COVID-19 pandemic [21], [24]. The main motivation for the DI Yogyakarta Provincial Government to organize various social programs for the elderly, especially in the form of social assistance, is the desire to expand coverage or increase the number of elderly recipients of assistance.…”

Suicide in the geriatric population of South East Asia - contexts and attributes

“…43 Another study from Sri Lanka reports that elderly people with a lower social network develop depressive symptoms which further leads to suicide. 44 Some studies from China, Bangladesh, and Indonesia reveal that lack of friendship, less familial support, frequent harassment, quarrel among peers, worrying, loneliness, unhealthy dietary practices, alcohol use, and inactiveness can all lead to suicide or suicide attempts among youth and adults. 45,46 In summary, it can be said that a male older adult, who has a dependency, resides in a rural area, has any ailment but especially psychiatric illness (depression) or a mild level of dementia or disability, has neither formal nor informal support, or lives alone, and feels withdrawn from society, is at risk of developing negative emotions and committing suicide, and such factors need to be taken care of.…”