Preventing and responding to depression, self-harm, and suicide in older people living in long term care settings: a systematic review

Article

Gleeson, H., Hafford-Letchfield, T., Quaife, M., Collins, D.A. and Flynn, A. 2019. Preventing and responding to depression, self-harm, and suicide in older people living in long term care settings: a systematic review. Aging and Mental Health. 23 (11), pp. 1467-1477. https://doi.org/10.1080/13607863.2018.1501666
TypeArticle
TitlePreventing and responding to depression, self-harm, and suicide in older people living in long term care settings: a systematic review
AuthorsGleeson, H., Hafford-Letchfield, T., Quaife, M., Collins, D.A. and Flynn, A.
Abstract

Objective: The well documented demographic shift to an aging population means that more people will in future be in need of long term residential care. Previous research has reported an increased risk of mental health issues and suicidal behaviour among older people living in residential care settings. However, there is little information on the actual prevalence of depression, self-harm, and suicidal ideation in this population, how it is measured and how care homes respond to these issues.
Method: This systematic review of international literature addressed three research questions relating to; the prevalence of mental health problems in this population; how they are identified and; how care homes try to prevent or respond to mental health issues.
Results: Findings showed higher reported rates of depression and suicidal ideation (but not self-harm) in care home residents compared to matched age groups in the community, variation in the use and appropriateness of standardised measures across studies and, interventions almost exclusively focused on increasing staff knowledge about mental health but with an absence of involvement of older people themselves in these programmes.
Conclusion: We discuss the implications of these findings in the context of addressing mental health difficulties experienced by older people in residential care and future research in this area.

KeywordsOlder people; care homes; mental health; depression; suicide; staff training
PublisherRoutledge
JournalAging and Mental Health
ISSN1360-7863
Electronic1364-6915
Publication dates
Online04 Nov 2018
Print02 Nov 2019
Publication process dates
Deposited06 Nov 2018
Accepted11 Jul 2018
Submitted28 Jan 2018
Output statusPublished
Accepted author manuscript
Copyright Statement

This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Aging and Mental Health on 04/11/2018, available online: http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/13607863.2018.1501666

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1080/13607863.2018.1501666
Scopus EID2-s2.0-85056786896
Web of Science identifierWOS:000486081400003
LanguageEnglish
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