Suicidality in old age

Suicidalnost nije tako rijetka pojava u starijoj životnoj dobi i tema je mnogih istraživanja. Ovaj rad će predstaviti definicije suicida kao i klasifikacije suicidalnog ponašanja. Cilj ovog rada je napraviti pregled istraživanja koja su se bavila rizičnim faktorima za suicidalno ponašanje u starijoj životnoj dobi. Dakle, istraživanja koja su se bavila razlozima zbog kojih stariji razmišljaju o suicidu, zbog kojih dolazi do pokušaja suicida i naposljetku razlozi koji dovedu do počinjenja suicida u toj dobi. Takav pregled istraživanja može prvenstveno poslužiti javnosti za upoznavanje sa specifičnostima suicidalnosti u trećoj dobi. Nadalje, može koristiti za izradu preventivnih programa, ali i znanstvenicima u istražene ili neistražene podatke te njihovu konzistentnost. Istraživanjima se pokazalo kako su neki od rizičnih faktora za suicidalnost starijih: muški spol, stara starija dob, život u ruralnom području, razne fizičke i mentalne bolesti, usamljenost, financijski problemi, nedovoljna emocionalna podrška te pretrpljeno nasilje. U radu će se također predstaviti i ukratko opisati neke od ključnih teorija suicidalnosti: Durkheimova sociološka teorija, teorija beznađa, teorija bijega, teorija disregulacije emocija, teorija psihološke boli, interpersonalno-psihološka teorija, integrirani motivacijsko-voljni model te model stresne dijateze. Suicidalnost u starijoj dobi je ozbiljan društveni problem te je u ovom radu prepoznata uloga socijalnog rada u prevenciji ovoga problema
Suicidality is not such a rare occurrance in old age and as such is the subject of many studies. This paper will present definitions of suicide, as well as the classifications of suicidal behavior. The aim of this paper is to present the risk factors for suicidal behavior in older age through a review of research. Thus, research that explored the reasons why elderly think about suicide, why suicide attempts occur among the elderly and finally the reasons that lead to committing suicide at that age. Such an overview of research can primarily serve the public to familiarize them with the specifics of suicidality in the third age. Furthermore, we can use it as a basis for preventive plannning as well as guidelines in further research. Studies have shown that some of the risk factors for elderly suicide are: male gender, old old age, living in a rural area, various physical and mental illnesses, loneliness, financial problems, insufficient emotional support and suffered violence. The paper will also present and briefly describe some of the key theories of suicidality: Durkheim's sociological theory, hopelessness theory, escape theory, emotion dysregulation theory, psychache theory, interpersonal-psychological theory, integrated motivational-volitional model of suicidal behaviour and model of stress diathesis. Suicidality in old age is a serious social problem, and this paper recognizes the role of social work in the prevention of this problem.