Suicide Prevention among Elderly People

Title of intervention project

A Handbook for the Danish Municipalities - Prevention of Suicidal Behaviour among Elderly People

Background

In the context of the Reference Group for the prevention of suicide attempts and suicides, projects have been carried out for the prevention of suicidal behaviour among elderly people in the period of 1999-2004.

The material includes new research results and their preventive implications. There is a need for collecting and working up the knowledge and experiences from these projects and to make them suitable and useful for the municipalities of the country.

Purpose

• to give the personnel of the health care field better tools in order for them to identify signs of poor personal welfare and suicidal behaviour among elderly people
• to spread knowledge of suicidal behaviour among elderly people and how to prevent suicides
• to contribute to creating a basis for municipal efforts

The objective of the project is to collect and communicate the knowledge and experiences which have been gathered about elderly people and suicide prevention in a way which makes it easy for the municipalities to initiate suicide preventive measures.

Method

In the Guide experiences will be presented from the model projects in the administrative district of Vejle concerning development of competences within personnel in the health care field, plans of action and model for cooperation.

Results

The intervention project has resulted in a publication: Handbook for the Danish Municipalities - Prevention of Suicide among elderly people, November 2006, worked out by Centre for Suicide Research in collaboration with the Ministry of Social Affairs, now the Ministry of Social Affairs and Integration.

The handbook is intended as an eye-opener and initiator for municipalities wanting to implement suicide preventive measures among the elderly.

• Link to the Danish website

Status

The handbook was presented and released at a conference - suicide prevention among elderly people - in November 2006, organized by Centre for Sucide Research. Subsequently, the handbook was sent to the municipalites that did not participate at the conference.

If the municipalities wish to strengthen or build up an offer for suicidal elderly people, it is recommended that they seek consultative assistance.

The project was financially supported by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Integration.

Contact

Director of Centre, Ph.D Lilian Zoellner, lz@cfsmail, Centre for Suicide Research.

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