Impact of suicide of the elderly on their families

The scope of this paper is an analysis of suicide of elderly people and the impact on the dynamics of their families is presented. The method used is of the qualitative research type known as psychosocial autopsy and is based on interviews with the family members of 51 elderly people who committed s...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Ciência & saude coletiva 2012-08, Vol.17 (8), p.1993-2002
Main Authors: Figueiredo, Ana Elisa Bastos, Silva, Raimunda Magalhães da, Mangas, Raimunda Matilde do Nascimento, Vieira, Luiza Jane Eyre de Souza, Furtado, Herla Maria Jorge, Gutierrez, Denise Machado Duran, Sousa, Girliani Silva de
Format: Article
Language:Portuguese
Subjects:
Adaptation, Psychological
Aged
Autopsies
Autopsy
Brazil
Brazilians
Cities
Death
Elderly
Family
Family - psychology
Family structure
Health Care Services
Health services
Humans
Investigation
Mental health
Old age
Older people
Prejudice
Qualitative research
Stigma
Suffering
Suicide
Suicides & suicide attempts
Testimony
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Summary:The scope of this paper is an analysis of suicide of elderly people and the impact on the dynamics of their families is presented. The method used is of the qualitative research type known as psychosocial autopsy and is based on interviews with the family members of 51 elderly people who committed suicide in 10 Brazilian cities. The study in these cities was defined by epidemiological research that revealed the relevance of this phenomenon. Many themes were analyzed in the investigation. However, this text focuses on how the families coped with the death of the elderly person, their impressions regarding the act, and the repercussions on family members and the social network. Pursuant to a comprehensive analysis of the testimonies, the following nuclei of significance were revealed: feelings of guilt for the act; social isolation and its manifestations on health; social stigma and prejudice; prospects of overcoming family suffering; anger and feelings of the improbability of the act; and care for the family members. The families manifested suffering, sadness, and perplexity at the death of the elderly person, which influences and has repercussions on their dynamics and at an individual level. Such consequences are different in each area researched depending on the experiences the family has had with acts of this nature.
ISSN:1413-8123
1678-4561
DOI:10.1590/S1413-81232012000800010