Community-Based Suicide Prevention Through Group Activity for the Elderly Successfully Reduced the High Suicide Rate for Females

This study evaluated outcomes of a community-based suicide prevention program for the elderly in Yuri, Japan. During 1995-2002, the program included group activity, psychoeducation, & self-assessment of depression. Changes in the relative risk of suicide for individuals, 65 years & older, before & after the program was implemented were estimated by the incidence rate ratio, using a quasi-experimental design with a neighbouring reference town. The risk of elderly females in Yuri completing suicide was reduced by 76% while there was no change in the risks for Yuri’s elederly males. The reduction of risk in the intervention area was greater than an historical trend. (21 refs.)