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The British Journal of Psychiatry (2002) 181: 226-229
© 2002 The Royal College of Psychiatrists

Suicide among the elderly: the long-term impact of a telephone support and assessment intervention in northern Italy

DIEGO DE LEO, MD, PhD

Australian Institute for Suicide Research and Prevention, Griffith University, Australia

MARIROSA DELLO BUONO, MD, PhD

WHO Collaborating Centre for Training and Research in Suicide Prevention, University of Padua, Italy

JONATHAN DWYER, PhD

Australian Institute for Suicide Research and Prevention, Griffith University, Australia

Correspondence: Professor Diego De Leo, Director, Australian Institute for Suicide Research and Prevention, Mt Gravatt Campus, Griffith University, 4111 Queensland, Australia. E-mail: D.DeLeo{at}mailbox.gu.edu.au

Declaration of interest

None.

See editorial, pp. 191–192, this issue.

Background Previous short-term work reported fewer suicides among elderly users of a telephone helpline and emergency response service (the TeleHelp-TeleCheck Service).

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

Method 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; 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; 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.

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ELIZABETH WALSH
BJP 2002 181: 0. [Full Text]  

Suicide among the elderly: the promise of telecommunications

BEVERLY N. JONES
BJP 2002 181: 191-192. [Full Text]  

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