老人自殺議題

The Issue of Elderly Suicide

自殺是三十一世紀公共衛生重要的議題，台灣面臨人口老化及因老化產生的生理及心理發展的現象，我國老人自殺死亡率為各年齡之冠：隨著年齡增加，老人自殺死亡率也有逐年上升的趨勢。臺灣與國際比較顯示，台灣的老人自殺率不但高於西方國家，在亞洲也僅次於韓國而已。因此，老人自殺率確實為臺灣需積極面對的議題。本文藉由老人自殺文獻資料查證，描述老人自殺流行病學、相關危險因素、老人自殺特性及老人自殺防治工作等等。本文目的提供護理人員了解有關老人自殺的相關知識及防治措施，提升臨床護理人員對此議題的重視。

Suicide is a vital issue in public health in the 21(superscript st) century. In Taiwan, because of the increase of aging and the phenomenon of physiological and psychological development in the elderly, the suicidal rate in the elderly was the highest, compared to other age groups. The suicidal rate rises as the age increases. Compared to western countries, the suicidal rate in the elderly in Taiwan was the highest. The suicidal rate in the elderly in Taiwan was also higher than the rates of all other Asian countries except for Korea. Therefore, the issue of suicide in the elderly is significant and requires proactive attention in Taiwan. Via literature review, this article describes the epidemiology, risk factors, methods of suicide, and suicidal prevention in the elderly. This article offers nurses information regarding suicide in the elderly and preventive measures, thereby promoting clinical nurses' attention to this issue.