Is suicide the end point of ageism and human rights violations?

The contributing factors to suicide in older persons are well known, but potential nexus with ageism and human rights violations have not been explored. Risk factors associated with suicide in older persons include male gender and advanced age 85+,(1) medical illness,(2) mental health conditions,(3) psychosocial disability,(2, 4) and accommodation transition into care settings.(5) Qualitative research has given meaning to risk factors of loneliness, social disconnection,(6-9) and perceptions of burdensomeness,(7, 8) loss of meaning,(6, 9, 10) family and healthcare provider invalidation, hopelessness and rejection.(9-11) Using the UN Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD)(12) as a framework, these risk factors may be viewed in terms of human rights violations.

Source: The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry - June 10, 2021 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Anne Wand, Hilde Verbeek, Cecile Hanon, Carlos Augusto de Mendon ça Lima, Kiran Rabheru, Carmelle Peisah Tags: Suicide and human rights Source Type: research