How can suicidal behaviour in the elderly be prevented? a scoping review of the visegrad group countries

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: The aim was to explore the tools for suicide prevention which are effective and appropriate in the Visegrad Group countries. THEORETICAL BASE: Suicide is a serious public health issue in Central Europe. In this geographical area, suicide prevention in seniors has not yet been given proper research attention. METHODS: A structured literature search was performed to identify the empirical qualitative and quantitative research articles; the search focused on works published between January 2009 and June 2018. This scoping review reports the findings from 19 qualitative and quantitative studies, four reports by the World Health Organisation, four national statistics from the selected countries. OUTCOMES: Four suicide prevention tools were identified: (1) social media; (2) education by care professionals; (3) early intervention and access to services; and (4) reducing stigma related to mental disorders. IMPLICATIONS FOR SOCIAL WORK: The research examined both specific and broader contexts of the national and strategic prevention plans in the Visegrad Group countries and identified major insufficiencies. It is necessary to improve the level of integration of basic social work research and gerontosociology with clinical practice as a prerequisite for improving the prevention of suicide in seniors.