Suicide of seniors Cover Image

Sebevražednost seniorů
Suicide of seniors

Author(s): Olga Havránková
Subject(s): Social Sciences, Psychology, Gerontology
Published by: Univerzita Karlova v Praze - Filozofická fakulta, Vydavatelství
Keywords: suicide risk; suicide rates; seniors; PBSP needs; basic needs;

Summary/Abstract: The aim of this work is to study the phenomenon of suicide of seniors in the context of PBSP needs. The suicidality of seniors is a serious problem and it can be assumed that its importance will increase as a result of aging of population. I tried to find out which PBSP needs are in the largest deficit in sucidal threatened seniors and how to describe the phenomenon of suicidality of elderly people. This dissertation project was realized in the form of a qualitative research study, namely the method of interpretative phenomenological analysis, the principle of which is the study of living human experience and its individualized meaning, supplemented by other relevant research methods. The primary source of data was semi-structured interviews with seniors who had suicidal thoughts, tendencies, or attempts. This research confirmed that every need of a suicidal senior can be detected by the PBSP system and then use it to better understand how to work with this individual. The need, which respondents had in the biggest deficit, was the need of place (doubt about one’s own place in the world, loneliness, and the loss of meaning). It also turned out that suicidal ideas of seniors, no matter how many actually acts suicidal, unexpectedly high. The risk and safety factors, that this research has shown, correspond with previously established facts. In eventual subsequent follow-up research projects, it would be interesting to find out, for example, whether the work with PBSPs will ease or reverse suicidal thoughts. For practice, it has become necessary to create a manual for direct care workers on how to respond and act when a senior expresses suicidal.

  • Issue Year: 2019
  • Issue No: 2
  • Page Range: 40-51
  • Page Count: 12
  • Language: Czech