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KMID : 1138720160420030039
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Korean Public Health Research
2016 Volume.42 No. 3 p.39 ~ p.52
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Evaluation Study on the Effectiveness of Suicide Prevention Program among the Elderly Living Alone ? Case of Nowon-gu, Seoul
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Jeong Jin-Young
Kim Dong-Hyun
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Abstract
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Objective: This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of suicide prevention program for the elderly living alone with high risk of suicide in one community, Seoul.
Methods: Face-to-face interviews on mental health was conducted to select a group with high risk of suicide among seniors living alone in Nowon-Gu between 2011-2012. The response rate of mental health survey of the elderly people living alone in Nowon-gu in 2011 was 55.7%(7,054 out of 12,672). 91 elderly more were added afterwards, resulting 7,145 for the final data analysis. Based on the score of the short form of Geriatric Depression Scale(SGDS≥10) and the history of previous suicide attempts, the elderly with higher risk of committing suicide were selected to be taken care by the gatekeepers, who are trained volunteers from the same neighborhood as the selected elderly. The effectiveness of gatekeeper services were evaluated by the changes in depression score between the linked and the non-linked group and in subjective life satisfaction of the elderly receiving this service.
Results: 37.3%(320 out of 859) of the elderly who were selected as the high suicide risk group agreed to the gatekeepers' social support service; however, 84.1% of them met the gatekeepers to receive the service. The support sessions between the elderly and the gatekeeper maintained throughout the evaluation period for 85.9% of initially linked elderly. Both the linked group and the non-linked group scored low points in depression in 2012, compared to those of 2011. The score did not significantly decrease in the linked group(10.5 → 9.8, p≥ 0.05) while it significantly decreased in the non-linked group(10.0 → 8.7, p<0.05). 71.3% of the elderly who responded to the satisfaction survey for the gatekeeper service reported that they were satisfied with the service.
Conclusion: It is the first exemplary case for a local government to carry out a community network restoration program for the prevention of suicide. Strengthening professionalism with appropriate incentives will encourage the participation and motivation of the gatekeeping volunteers. It is also necessary to organize the gatekeepers’ individualized and scattered activities and to function as grass-root, community-wide core body for the prevention of suicide by strengthening the relationship between gate-keepers.
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KEYWORD
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Mental health survey, Gate-keeper, Elderly living alone, Suicide prevention program, Evaluation study
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