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

J 2023

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

RASNAYAKA MUDIYANSELAGE, Susantha Kumara and Pavel NAVRÁTIL

Basic information

Original name

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

Authors

RASNAYAKA MUDIYANSELAGE, Susantha Kumara (144 Sri Lanka, belonging to the institution) and Pavel NAVRÁTIL (203 Czech Republic, guarantor, belonging to the institution)

Edition

Journal of Population and Social Studies, Mahidol University, Institute for Population and Social Research, 2023, 2465-4418

Other information

Language

English

Type of outcome

Článek v odborném periodiku

Field of Study

50900 5.9 Other social sciences

Country of publisher

Thailand

Confidentiality degree

není předmětem státního či obchodního tajemství

References:

Stránky časopisu

RIV identification code

RIV/00216224:14230/23:00129984

Organization unit

Faculty of Social Studies

DOI

http://dx.doi.org/10.25133/JPSSv312023.001

Keywords in English

Elderly suicide; help-seeking behavior; old age culture; risk of suicide

Abstract

V originále

Though the suicide rate is remarkably high among older personsin many countries,seeking external assistance indealingwith suicidality is infrequent.Against this background, the objectives of this paper are twofold: to identify possible depressive signs and suicide warnings exhibited by older peoplebeforethe act of suicide,and to examine the factors affectingthe help-seekingbehaviorof older peoplewho dieby suicide. The study revealed that angry outbursts,sleep disturbance, isolation,reduced speaking,and thoughts of the meaninglessness of life are the significantpossible signsof depression.However, only a few older personsdirectly expressedearly warnings such as ‘talking about deathor suicide.’Yet, it seems that family members areunaware ofthe early warningsigns. The study foundfoursignificantfactors that limit the help-seekingbehaviorof older peopledealingwith suicidality:a weaksocialnetwork,poor understanding of depressive and suicidal signsby familymembers,negative attitudes relating toold age culture,and a crisis of personal perspectivesin help-seeking.We conclude thatpromotingmental health services to older personsand improving their help-seekingbehaviorin response to various life stressors would helpprevent suicide in the olderpopulation.

Links

MUNI/A/1416/2022, interní kód MU

Name: Reflektivní, kolaborativní a kreativní přístupy k designu a realizaci sociálních politik a strategií sociální práce

Investor: Masaryk University, Reflective, collaborative and creative approaches to the design and implementation of social policies and social work strategies

Files attached

Warning_Signs_of_Elderly_Suicide_and_Factors_Affecting.pdf

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Citovat

RASNAYAKA MUDIYANSELAGE, Susantha Kumara and Pavel NAVRÁTIL. Warning Signs of Elderly Suicide and Factors Affecting Professional Help-Seeking : Case of Sri Lanka. Journal of Population and Social Studies. Mahidol University, Institute for Population and Social Research, 2023, vol. 31, neuveden, p. 1-19. ISSN 2465-4418. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.25133/JPSSv312023.001.

@article{1874400,
   author = {Rasnayaka Mudiyanselage, Susantha Kumara and Navrátil, Pavel},
   article_number = {neuveden},
   doi = {http://dx.doi.org/10.25133/JPSSv312023.001},
   keywords = {Elderly suicide; help-seeking behavior; old age culture; risk of suicide},
   language = {eng},
   issn = {2465-4418},
   journal = {Journal of Population and Social Studies},
   title = {Warning Signs of Elderly Suicide and Factors Affecting Professional Help-Seeking : Case of Sri Lanka},
   url = {https://so03.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/jpss/article/view/255910/174416},
   volume = {31},
   year = {2023}
}

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ID  - 1874400
AU  - Rasnayaka Mudiyanselage, Susantha Kumara - Navrátil, Pavel
PY  - 2023
TI  - Warning Signs of Elderly Suicide and Factors Affecting Professional Help-Seeking : Case of Sri Lanka
JF  - Journal of Population and Social Studies
VL  - 31
IS  - neuveden
SP  - 1-19
EP  - 1-19
PB  - Mahidol University, Institute for Population and Social Research
SN  - 24654418
KW  - Elderly suicide
KW  - help-seeking behavior
KW  - old age culture
KW  - risk of suicide
UR  - https://so03.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/jpss/article/view/255910/174416
N2  - Though the suicide rate is remarkably high among older personsin many countries,seeking external assistance indealingwith suicidality is infrequent.Against this background, the objectives of this paper are twofold: to identify possible depressive signs and suicide warnings exhibited by older peoplebeforethe act of suicide,and to examine the factors affectingthe help-seekingbehaviorof older peoplewho dieby suicide. The study revealed that angry outbursts,sleep disturbance, isolation,reduced speaking,and thoughts of the meaninglessness of life are the significantpossible signsof depression.However, only a few older personsdirectly expressedearly warnings such as ‘talking about deathor suicide.’Yet, it seems that family members areunaware ofthe early warningsigns. The study foundfoursignificantfactors that limit the help-seekingbehaviorof older peopledealingwith suicidality:a weaksocialnetwork,poor understanding of depressive and suicidal signsby familymembers,negative attitudes relating toold age culture,and a crisis of personal perspectivesin help-seeking.We conclude thatpromotingmental health services to older personsand improving their help-seekingbehaviorin response to various life stressors would helpprevent suicide in the olderpopulation.
ER  -

RASNAYAKA MUDIYANSELAGE, Susantha Kumara and Pavel NAVRÁTIL. Warning Signs of Elderly Suicide and Factors Affecting Professional Help-Seeking : Case of Sri Lanka. \textit{Journal of Population and Social Studies}. Mahidol University, Institute for Population and Social Research, 2023, vol.~31, neuveden, p.~1-19. ISSN~2465-4418. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.25133/JPSSv312023.001.

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