Suicide and Its Risk Factors Among Elderly in Central India

Abstract

Introduction: The 21st century is often called as the “Age of Ageing.” Globally, the share of older people who are above 60 years of age grew from 9.2% in the year 1990–2011, 7% in the year 2013, and following this trend, it will reach to 21.1% by the year 2050. Aim and Objective: The aim of this study is to determine the risk factors of suicides in the elderly population who committed suicide. Methodology: The study was a community-based cross-sectional study conducted in the Wardha district, located in the Central part of India from July 2015 to October 2017. The total cases of suicides among elderly population of more than or equal to 60 years, recorded with the appropriate authority during the year 2013–2014 and 2014–2015 was included in this study. The study participants were the survivor of suicide (people intimately and directly affected by a suicide), who was knowledgeable about the events or circumstances, leading to the suicide by the elderly. Results: problems faced by elderly that led them to suicide. Near about all the elderly (98.6%) except one were having some mental health issues in the form of anxiety and depression. Furthermore, about 78.9% of study participants were having clinical comorbidities in the form of chronic physical pain, major accident or paralysis, history of fits, stupor, loss of consciousness, and chronic illness such as tuberculosis or cancer. Conclusions: In the present study, near about half of the elderly were in the age group of 60–69 years of age. While maximum elderly who committed suicide were male by gender indicating, male gender is more prone for suicide.