노인과 자살

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

Elderly people have shown high suicide rates relative to other age groups throughout history. However, certain segments of the elderly population are more likely to commit suicide than others. The rates and the number of elderly suicide in Korea has been increased since 1985 year. The need to understand suicide among the elderly is becoming more urgent and should generate more research. Knowledge of the conditions leading to suicide will aid clinicians and public policy makers by facilitating the effective development of intervention and prevention programs. As a result, the prepose of this study is to ascertain social conditions behind suicide and also to prepare for some appropriate policy-tasks in the light of the prevention of elderly suicide. In other countries, the majority of present suicide prevention efforts are directed at the secondary prevention level, including crisis intervention and therapy. The suicide prevention programs are primarily crisis oriented and their approach is essentially passive, with limited community approach. However. crisis prevention programs are underutilized by older adults. Thus outreach support activities could be instrumental in reaching high-risk suicidal older adults. There are examples of innovative programs that successfully target older adults, namely, the tele-help/tele-check, the center for elderly suicide prevention, gatekeeper program, and community education program Although the majority of suicide prevention efforts are directed at the secondary level of prevention, there needs to be a simultaneous effort directed at primary prevention activities. To effectively prevent elderly suicide, we must focus on those factors that will improve the quality of life of older adults in Korea. Ultimately, the prevention of elderly suicide requires that we improve older adults` economic security, supportive family networks, health care system, and opportunities for community involvement.