Preventing Elderly Suicide Through Primary Care by Community-Based Screening for Depression in Rural Japan

This study evaluated outcomes of a community-based program to prevent suicide among Japanese elderly using a quasi-experimental design with a neighbouring reference group. The program, including depression screening with follow-up & health education, was implemented for 10 years in Matsudai town, a rural area of Japan. Changes in suicide risk were estimated by the incidence rate ratio. The risk of females in the intervention area completing suicide was reduced by 70%. There was no change in the risk for males nor for subjects in the reference area.