Suicide prevention for older people in municipal health and care services
This scoping review identifies, discusses, and synthesizes knowledge, research, and development work related to suicide risk and interventions in municipal health and care services to prevent suicide among older people. The review also provides an overview of legal, professional, and political documents that regulate and provide a basis for suicide prevention efforts within municipal health and care services.
The review follows the methodological steps outlined for scoping reviews by Arksey and O’Malley. The summary includes 28 publications, of which 21 are scientific articles and seven are other types of professional publications that describe research and development work. Most of the publications describe work conducted with participants or data collection in Norway (19), while six of the publications present work carried out in Sweden, and one in Denmark. Additionally, an international review article and a European population study are included, both of which were found to be relevant to the Scandinavian context. The included scientific articles were published in the period 2018–2023.
The identified studies emphasize the increased vulnerability to suicide among older adults, and highlight the importance of addressing unique challenges, including physical and mental ill health and socioeconomic conditions. The publications show that healthcare professionals report a lack of knowledge about suicide prevention, which indicates a significant need for training and awareness-raising initiatives. The summarized knowledge also points to the need to improve communication and dialogue between healthcare professionals and older adults, to better identify warning signs and provide adequate existential support. To address these challenges, various measures are proposed, including training programmes for healthcare professionals, the implementation of prevention strategies, and raising awareness about existing support resources such as guidance materials from the Norwegian Directorate of Health. At the same time, the importance of involving and supporting relatives, as well as creating a more inclusive and supportive local community for older adults, is emphasized to counteract loneliness.
The results show that to strengthen suicide prevention efforts among older people, it is necessary to implement measures that address their specific needs and challenges. Strategies are needed to ensure collaboration among various stakeholders, including healthcare professionals, family members, and the broader community, to create a safer and more supportive environment for older individuals.