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Too little, too old, too late: guidance for primary care practitioners on how to help prevent suicide amongst older people

27 March 2007

A new resource to assist family doctors in preventing suicide in older people is now available from the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP).

The RCGP’s Mental Health Group has worked with Staffordshire University and the Royal College of Nursing to produce a fact sheet to help primary care practitioners identify and support older people they suspect may be depressed and even suicidal.

The sheet ‘Too little, too old, too late?’ contains key background information and statistics, ways for primary care doctors and nurses to raise awareness of the issue and what to look out for during a consultation.

The information is based on a report Older People and Suicide by Derek Beeston of Staffordshire University’s Centre for Ageing and Mental Health. The report concluded that:

• People over 65 are the group most likely to carry out a threat of suicide in primary care, with almost one in four attempts resulting in death
• People over the age of 65 are more successful than any other age group at taking their own lives
• Two thirds of older people who take their own life have been in touch with a primary care professional in the weeks before their death
• Depression in older people is treatable and can be successfully managed

Dr Huw Lloyd, Chair of the RCGP Mental Health Group, said: “Depression, physical ill health and social isolation are important markers in identifying older people who may be suicidal. Primary care practitioners are in a strong position to address these problems and to offer support.

“We hope that the fact sheet will assist doctors and nurses in successfully identifying and responding to at-risk suicidal behaviour in older patients.”

Report author Derek Beeston added: “Although evidence shows that suicide in older people is reasonably well understood, what still remains lacking in tackling this tragic problem is recognition that communities need to take sustained action to value, support and include older people in all aspects of life.”

The information sheet can be downloaded from the RCGP website http://www.rcgp.org.uk/

Ends

For further information please contact Lorna Fletcher in the RCGP press office 020 7344 3136 / press@rcgp.org.uk

NOTES TO EDITORS

• The ‘Too little, too old, too late’ fact sheet is the first in a series produced by the RCGP Mental Health Group aimed at primary care professionals
• Staffordshire University’s Centre for Ageing and Mental Health review ‘Older People and Suicide’ can be downloaded from http://westmidlands.csip.org.uk/publications/suicide-in-elders-publications.html
• The Royal College of General Practitioners is the largest membership organisation in the United Kingdom solely for GPs. It aims to encourage and maintain the highest standards of general medical practice and to act as the “voice” of GPs on issues concerned with education; training; research; and clinical standards. Founded in 1952, the RCGP has over 27,000 members who are committed to improving patient care, developing their own skills and promoting general practice as a discipline.