Abstract
Objectives: To assess the prevalence of suicidal ideation and identify the factors associated with it among the elderly population in Yazd during the year 2021.
Design: A cross-sectional study.
Setting(s): Tabriz, the capital city of the East Azerbaijan province in northwestern Iran.
Participants: A total of 386 seniors aged 60 years and above, residing in Yazd, participated in this study. The sample consisted of 212 women and 174 men selected using the cluster random sampling method.
Outcome measures: Data were collected via the Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation (BSSI).
Results: Five percent of the participants have a high level of suicidal risk and readiness for suicide. Additionally, the mean score of suicidal ideation varied significantly based on demographic variables such as gender, occupation, education level, and income type (P < 0.05). Moreover, the risk of suicidal ideation was higher among women compared to men, particularly among housekeepers compared to other occupational groups (P < 0.05). Furthermore, elderly individuals who relied on support from their children and other supportive institutions as their source of income were more susceptible to suicidal ideation compared to others (P < 0.05). In terms of education, elderly individuals with no education or only primary education had a higher risk of suicidal ideation compared to those with a high school diploma or higher education (P<0.05). In addition, individuals with a history of psychiatric disorders, musculoskeletal diseases, high blood pressure, comorbidity, and high cholesterol levels obtained significantly higher scores for suicidal ideation compared to elderly individuals without these conditions (P<0.05).
Conclusions: The elderly individuals in Yazd exhibited a desirable level of suicidal ideation, with a low risk of suicide. However, the risk factors for suicidal ideation examined in this study highlight the need for increased attention by healthcare managers to the mental health of the elderly population.