Article: The impact of epidemic outbreak: The case of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and suicide among older adults in Hong Kong

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TitleThe impact of epidemic outbreak: The case of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and suicide among older adults in Hong Kong
AuthorsYip, PSF1
Cheung, YT2
Chau, PH1
Law, YW1
KeywordsEpidemic
Older adults
Poisson regression
Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)
Issue Date2010
PublisherHogrefe & Huber Publishers. The Journal's web site is located at http://www.hogrefe.com/periodicals/crisis-the-journal-of-crisis-intervention-and-suicide-prevention/
CitationCrisis, 2010, v. 31 n. 2, p. 86-92 [How to Cite?]
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1027/0227-5910/a000015
AbstractBackground: Previous studies revealed that there was a significant increase in suicide deaths among those aged 65 and over in 2003. The peak coincided with the majority of SARS cases being reported in April 2003. Aims: In this paper we examine the mechanism of how the SARS outbreak resulted in a higher completed suicide rate especially among older adults in Hong Kong. Methods: We used Qualitative data analysis to uncover the association between the occurrence of SARS and older adult suicide. Furthermore, we used a qualitative study based on the Coroner Court reports to provide empirical evidence about the relationship between SARS and the excessive number of suicide deaths among the elderly. Results: SARS-related older adult suicide victims were more likely to be afraid of contracting the disease and had fears of disconnection. The suicide motives among SARS-related suicide deaths were more closely associated with stress over fears of being a burden to their families during the negative impact of the epidemic. Social disengagement, mental stress, and anxiety at the time of the SARS epidemic among a certain group of older adults resulted in an exceptionally high rate of suicide deaths. Conclusions: We recommend that the mental and psychological well-being of the community, in particular older adults, be taken into careful account when developing epidemic control measures to combat the future outbreak of diseases in the community. In addition, it is important to alert family members to vulnerable individuals who are at potential risk because of their illnesses or anxieties. © 2010 Hogrefe Publishing.
ISSN0227-5910
2011 Impact Factor: 1.085
2011 SCImago Journal Rankings: 0.063
DOIhttp://dx.doi.org/10.1027/0227-5910/a000015
ReferencesReferences in Scopus
DC Field
Value
dc.contributor.authorYip, PSF
dc.contributor.authorCheung, YT
dc.contributor.authorChau, PH
dc.contributor.authorLaw, YW
dc.date.accessioned2010-12-23T08:46:35Z
dc.date.available2010-12-23T08:46:35Z
dc.date.issued2010
dc.description.abstractBackground: Previous studies revealed that there was a significant increase in suicide deaths among those aged 65 and over in 2003. The peak coincided with the majority of SARS cases being reported in April 2003. Aims: In this paper we examine the mechanism of how the SARS outbreak resulted in a higher completed suicide rate especially among older adults in Hong Kong. Methods: We used Qualitative data analysis to uncover the association between the occurrence of SARS and older adult suicide. Furthermore, we used a qualitative study based on the Coroner Court reports to provide empirical evidence about the relationship between SARS and the excessive number of suicide deaths among the elderly. Results: SARS-related older adult suicide victims were more likely to be afraid of contracting the disease and had fears of disconnection. The suicide motives among SARS-related suicide deaths were more closely associated with stress over fears of being a burden to their families during the negative impact of the epidemic. Social disengagement, mental stress, and anxiety at the time of the SARS epidemic among a certain group of older adults resulted in an exceptionally high rate of suicide deaths. Conclusions: We recommend that the mental and psychological well-being of the community, in particular older adults, be taken into careful account when developing epidemic control measures to combat the future outbreak of diseases in the community. In addition, it is important to alert family members to vulnerable individuals who are at potential risk because of their illnesses or anxieties. © 2010 Hogrefe Publishing.
dc.description.natureLink_to_subscribed_fulltext
dc.identifier.citationCrisis, 2010, v. 31 n. 2, p. 86-92 [How to Cite?]
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1027/0227-5910/a000015
dc.identifier.doihttp://dx.doi.org/10.1027/0227-5910/a000015
dc.identifier.epage92
dc.identifier.hkuros177126
dc.identifier.isiWOS:000277094400005
dc.identifier.issn0227-5910
2011 Impact Factor: 1.085
2011 SCImago Journal Rankings: 0.063
dc.identifier.issue2
dc.identifier.openurl
dc.identifier.pmid20418214
dc.identifier.scopuseid_2-s2.0-77957062447
dc.identifier.spage86
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10722/130076
dc.identifier.volume31
dc.languageeng
dc.publisherHogrefe & Huber Publishers. The Journal's web site is located at http://www.hogrefe.com/periodicals/crisis-the-journal-of-crisis-intervention-and-suicide-prevention/
dc.publisher.placeUnited States
dc.relation.ispartofCrisis
dc.relation.referencesReferences in Scopus
dc.subject.meshHong Kong
dc.subject.meshSevere Acute Respiratory Syndrome - mortality - psychology
dc.subject.meshSocial Isolation
dc.subject.meshSuicidal Ideation
dc.subject.meshSuicide - psychology - statistics and numerical data
dc.subjectEpidemic
dc.subjectOlder adults
dc.subjectPoisson regression
dc.subjectSevere acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)
dc.titleThe impact of epidemic outbreak: The case of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and suicide among older adults in Hong Kong
dc.typeArticle
Author Affiliations
  1. The University of Hong Kong
  2. University of Melbourne