Conference Agenda

Introduction: Suicide among older adults is a pressing public health concern. In the Netherlands, 18,2% of all people who died by suicide in 2024 was 70 years or older, with men at particularly high risk.¹ Suicide attempts in later life are more often fatal than in younger populations.² Yet little is known about the specific needs of this group, and evidence-based guidelines for appropriate care are lacking.

Methods: We used a mixed-methods approach combining qualitative interviews and a scoping review of international literature. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with adults aged ≥65 years experiencing suicidal thoughts or behaviors, focusing on their needs and experiences with care and support. Concurrently, a scoping review was performed according to PRISMA-ScR guidelines, systematically identifying empirical studies addressing the needs of older adults with suicidality. Of 5,818 screened articles, 5 were included. Data from both sources were thematically analyzed to identify convergent themes, complementary insights, and knowledge gaps. Data collection is ongoing and expected to conclude by the end of 2025.

Preliminary Results: Key needs emerging from interviews and literature include timely access to care, psychological support, social connectedness, autonomy in decision-making, and recognition. Older adults often report seeking help but feeling unheard, unsupported, and distrustful of services. They report services focusing on biomedical needs with limited attention to psychosocial needs. Trust, continuity, and long-term relationships facilitate communication, while informed family and social networks can play a supportive role. Integration of qualitative and literature-based data provides a nuanced understanding of both general and context-specific needs among older adults with suicidal thoughts or behaviors.

Conclusions: Findings highlight the importance of tailored interventions for older adults to prevent suicide and enhance quality of life. Full results will be available and presented at the conference from August 26–29, 2026.

1. Statistics Netherlands (2024)

2. De Leo et al. (2001)

Introduction: Older adults have the highest suicide rates of all age groups in Flanders, Belgium. While we have insight into risk factors through quantitative studies, there is no comprehensive qualitative understanding of the suicidal process yet. We therefore sought to understand the development of suicidal thoughts, with a specific interest into turning points and the transition from ideation to behaviour.

Methods: We conducted two types of qualitative interviews, interviews with older adults with experience of suicidal thoughts or attempts after age 60, analysed through Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis and interviews with relatives of a person aged 60 and over who died by suicide, analysed thematically.

Results: Preliminary analyses show a variety of experiences with shared themes. A combination of vulnerabilities, caused in part by adverse childhood experiences, personal characteristics and (age-related) stressors contributed to the development of suicidal thoughts. Turning points included work-place transitions, such as retirement, and an increased awareness of diminishing future prospects as experienced by participants. Relatives were able to notice warning signs in the days and weeks before the death by suicide. These included increasing withdrawal, a build-up of physical complaints and waiting for important moments. Euthanasia was discussed by some of the participants, though none of the participants considered this a realistic option for their end of life.

Conclusions: This in-depth exploration of the suicidal process from two participant groups has increased our understanding of the phenomenon. Furthermore, investigating suicidality in a country with long-standing euthanasia and assisted suicide legislation has shed a light on the relation between these concepts.

Introduction

Close relatives of suicidal older adults may experience a substantial informal care burden as well as feelings of exclusion by healthcare providers. We incorporated an option for relatives to participate in a psychosocial intervention developed for suicidal older adults. This study aims to evaluate the experiences of the relatives who took part in the intervention, as well as the experiences of the patients who chose to include them.

Methods

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with six relatives and six patients following their participation in one to three sessions of the 12-week Cognitive Reappraisal Intervention for Suicide Prevention (CRISP 70+) at Sahlgrenska University Hospital. The interviews were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.

Results

Three themes captured the experiences of the relatives and patients in the suicide preventive intervention: Ambiguity of role and responsibility, Turning point in the care experience and Worries about the future, when CRISP support ends. Relatives described uncertainty about their role – both within the intervention and in relation to their suicidal relative – but noted that it became clearer through the encounter with the therapist. The intervention itself was described positively by both patients and relatives, especially when contrasted with previous negative healthcare experiences. Therapist flexibility and attentiveness were highlighted as the most valued aspects. At the same time, participants expressed concern about continuing care services without CRISP support.

Conclusions

When relatives are involved in suicide preventive interventions for older adults, it is essential to clearly define their role. Ending the intervention may leave both patients and relatives feeling vulnerable, underscoring the importance of strong connections to routine care and the continuation of the therapeutic process through regular services.

Introduction.

Close relatives can play an important role in suicide prevention, and involving relatives in psychiatric care can be essential as they can provide important knowledge about the older adults’ suicidal process and unmet needs. Given the unique knowledge they possess, this study aims to gain an understanding of relatives’ perspectives on: 1) the triggering of their relative’s negative/suicidal thinking and subsequent “cooling down” of such thoughts; and 2) the needs of their suicidal relatives, as well as their own needs, and how mental health care services might better meet these needs.

Methods

Semi-structured interviews are being conducted with close relatives of patients (aged 70 and above) who have been treated at in- and outpatient services in a large Swedish city due to a suicide attempt (anticipated n=9). Data will be analyzed using Interpretative phenomenological analysis.

Results

Data collection is ongoing; recruitment will be completed in February, 2026. Analysis will identify themes which are related to the close relatives’ experiences and perceptions.

Conclusion

The study will contribute with increased knowledge of the lived experiences of close relatives, which can inform the development of psychiatric services for older adults with suicidal behavior.

Background Relatively, little is known about how spousal loss affects suicide risk in older adults, and no evidence exists for Austria despite its high suicide rates among older adults. This study set out to examine whether Austrian older adults are at increased risk of suicide after loss of partner, drawing on newly available, individual-linkage data.

Methods We followed more than 800,000 married adults aged 65 and older from January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2023. Individuals were classified as exposed starting on the day they experienced spousal loss. We calculated incidence rates of suicide (ICD-10: X60-X84, Y87) and estimated time-stratified cause-specific proportional hazard regression models, using the non-exposed as a comparison group.

Results Out of 46,324 older adults who experienced loss of partner, 72 died by suicide. The incidence rate was 58 among the bereaved group, compared to 12 per 100,000 person-years among individuals who remained married. Suicide rates were highest in men and in those aged 85 and older. Individuals who lost a partner faced a 4-fold higher suicide risk when compared to those still married. The risk peaked during the first month after the partner’s death but stayed elevated over the long term.

Conclusion The risk of suicide is increased among newly widowed older adults, particularly among men. Thus, monitoring and bereavement support for those who have recently lost a partner are crucial.