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Au Québec, les personnes âgées entre 50 et 64 ans sont le groupe le plus à risque de suicide. Toutefois, peu d'études se sont intéressées spécifiquement aux impacts du suicide d'un parent de ce groupe d'âge sur leurs enfants. Pourtant, les personnes endeuillées par un suicide familial présentent des risques importants de poser le même geste. L'objectif de la présente étude qualitative est d'identifier ce qui caractérise l'expérience des endeuillés par suicide d'un parent âgé entre 50 et 64 ans. Les participants (n = 14) étaient âgés en moyenne de 23 ans (entre 10 et 34 ans) au moment de la perte. L'analyse thématique des entretiens semi-structurés a révélé 5 thèmes principaux : (1) le choc et la désorganisation; (2) l'adaptation et les changements; (3) la transmission intergénérationnelle du suicide; (4) les défis sociaux; et (5) la perception du vieillissement et l'aide médicale à mourir comme solution. Les résultats soulignent que les participants sont aux prises avec les mêmes enjeux que tous les endeuillés par suicide, mais qu'ils sont préoccupés par la transmission intergénérationnelle du suicide. De plus, il semble que la perception négative du vieillissement soit un thème unique au deuil par suicide d'un parent de ce groupe d'âge. En effet, plusieurs endeuillés envisageraient l'aide médicale à mourir comme solution potentielle aux problèmes de l'avancement en âge.

Abstract. A personal goal intervention program was offered to early retirees aged 50 to 65 years with the objective of increasing their subjective well-being. The program was aimed at helping the participants set, plan, pursue, and realize their personal goals. A subsample of 21 participants with suicidal ideas was identified from a larger sample (N = 354) of retirees living in the community who took part in the study to evaluate the program. The experimental (n = 10) and control (n = 11) groups were compared on their answers to 16 goal and psychological well-being questionnaires. By the end of the program, the experimental group had improved significantly more than the control group on hope, goal realization process, serenity, flexibility, and positive attitude toward retirement. The levels of depression and psychological distress significantly decreased. These gains were maintained 6 months later. The positive results obtained from this study could lead to an innovative way to help people with suicidal ideations.

The right to self-determination is central to the current debate on rational suicide in old age. The goal of this exploratory study was to assess the presence of self-determination in suicidal institutionalized elderly persons. Eleven elderly persons with serious suicidal ideations were matched according to age, sex, and civil status with 11 nonsuicidal persons. The results indicated that suicidal persons did not differ from nonsuicidal persons in level of self-determination. There was, however, a significant difference between groups on the social subscale. Suicidal elderly persons did not seem to take others into account when making a decision or taking action. The results are discussed from a suicide-prevention perspective.

Background: Suicide rates are highest among the elderly, yet research on suicide prevention in old age remains a much-neglected area. Aims: We carried out a systematic review to examine the results of interventions aimed at suicidal elderly persons and to identify successful strategies and areas needing further exploration. Methods: Searches through various electronic databases yielded 19 studies with an empirical evaluation of a suicide prevention or intervention program designed especially for adults aged 60 years and older. Results: Most studies were centered on the reduction of risk factors (depression screening and treatment, and decreasing isolation), but when gender was considered, programs were mostly efficient for women. The empirical evaluations of programs attending to the needs of high-risk older adults seemed positive; most studies showed a reduction in the level of suicidal ideation of patients or in the suicide rate of the participating communities. However, not all studies used measures of suicidality to evaluate the outcome of the intervention, and rarely did they aim at improving protective factors. Conclusions: Innovative strategies should improve resilience and positive aging, engage family and community gatekeepers, use telecommunications to reach vulnerable older adult, and evaluate the effects of means restriction and physicians education on elderly suicide.

Background: The number of older adults is growing rapidly. This fact, combined with the high rates of suicide in later life, indicates that many more older adults will die by their own hands before rigorous trials can be conducted to fully understand the best approaches to prevent late life suicide. Aims: To disseminate key considerations for interventions addressing senior suicidal behavior. Methods: An international expert panel has reviewed and discussed key considerations for interventions against suicide in older adults based on existing evidence, where available, and expert opinion. Results: A set of new key considerations is divided into: universal, selective, and indicated prevention as well as a section on general considerations. Conclusions: The suggestions span a wide range and are offered for consideration by local groups preparing new interventions, as well as large scale public health care planning.