O comportamento suicida de idosos institucionalizados: Histórias de vida

Abstract

This article summarizes and analyzes 16 life histories of elderly men and women residing in nine Long Stay Institutions in the State of Rio de Janeiro and who tried to end life or have suicidal behavior. The qualitative study was preceded by a survey of the profile of 122 elderly residents, using a form that includes: socioeconomic and demographic data: name, date of birth, age, sex, marital status, number of children living and dead, nationality, race, religion, degree of education, profession/occupation, income and time in which the institution resides; And five questions that guided the selection of people with ideations and suicide attempts, according to a model created by the Italian researcher Scocco and his group. According to the stories narrated by the eight men and eight women, there are relevant gender differences in both socio-demographic and motivational aspects of suicidal behavior. The main factors common to institutionalized men and women at risk for self-inflicted death are: loss of affective and referential ties, alcohol and other drug abuse, inadequate institutional life, disabling and painful chronic diseases that lead to loneliness, hopelessness and meaninglessness to life.