Suicide among the elderly: the long-term impact of a telephone support and assessment intervention in northern Italy.
BACKGROUND
Previous short-term work reported fewer suicides among elderly users of a telephone helpline and emergency response service (the TeleHelp-TeleCheck Service).


OBJECTIVE
To examine long-term effects of the service on suicide in an elderly population of northern Italy.


METHODS
The service provided twice-weekly support and needs assessment telephone calls and a 24h emergency alarm service. Data from 1988 to 1998 allowed comparison of 18 641 service users with a comparable general population group of the Veneto region in Italy.


RESULTS
Significantly fewer suicide deaths (n(OBSERVED)=6) occurred among elderly service users (standardised mortality ratio (SMR) 28.8%) than expected (n(EXPECTED)=20.86; chi(2)=10.58, d.f.=1, P<0.001) despite an assumed overrepresentation of persons at increased risk. The service performed well for elderly females (n(OBSERVED)=2, SMR=16.6%, n(EXPECTED)=12.03; chi(2)=8.36, d.f.=1, P<0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
The study confirms the initial promise of the TeleHelp-TeleCheck service over a much longer time period. Further research will clarify the apparent lack of benefit for elderly males.
Australian Institute for Suicide Research and Prevention, Mt Gravatt Campus, Griffith University, 4111 Queensland, Australia. D.DeLeo@mailbox.gu.edu.au
Diego
D
De Leo
Marirosa
M
Dello Buono
Jonathan
J
Dwyer
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D012737:Sex Factors; D013405:Suicide / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017216:Telemedicine; D013997:Time Factors; D000092864:Suicide Prevention