Life weariness and suicidal thoughts increase the risk of mortality

Photo: Mali Desha on Unsplash

Although suicide in old age contributes greatly to mortality, it is unclear what impact life weariness and suicidal thoughts have on mortality over time. Three NEAR population-based studies: the Swedish National Study on Aging and Care in Skåne (SNAC-S), Blekinge (SNAC-B), and Stockholm (SNAC-K), were used to explore the effect of life weariness and suicidal thoughts on mortality over 16 years in 7213 older adults.

By eliminating life weariness and suicidal thoughts, mortality would decrease by 11%
The survival time of persons who had life weariness and suicidal thoughts was shorter (8 years), as compared to those without such thoughts (12 years), and those who were older (80+ years) had the highest risk of mortality. Overall, if one could eliminate life weariness and suicidal thoughts, mortality would decrease by 11%. In conclusion, life weariness and suicidal thoughts were risk factors for long-term mortality in a large population of older adults. These results show the importance of screening and identifying older men and women who experience life weariness and suicidal thoughts.

Photo of Cecilia Fagerström, first author of the study

Publication
Fagerström C, Welmer AK, Elmståhl S, Tuvesson H. Life weariness, suicidal thoughts and mortality: a sixteen-year longitudinal study among men and women older than 60 years. BMC Public Health. 2021; 21(1): 1359. doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-11329-z.