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7 Environmental Factors in Suicide in Long‐Term Care Facilities
Author(s) -
Osgood Nancy J.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
suicide and life‐threatening behavior
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.544
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 1943-278X
pISSN - 0363-0234
DOI - 10.1111/j.1943-278x.1992.tb00478.x
Subject(s) - environmental health , suicide prevention , medicine , medical emergency , long term care , poison control , gerontology , psychology , psychiatry
One major purpose of this study was to identify environmental factors related to suicide in long‐term care facilities. Questionnaires were mailed to a random sample of administrators at 1,080 facilities. Information was collected on facility characteristics, overt suicide, and intentional life‐threatening behavior. Chi‐square analyses revealed 4 environmental characteristics related to suicidal behavior and deaths from suicide: staff turnover, size, auspices, and per diem cost. More suicides occurred in larger facilities and facilities with higher staff turnover. Religious or “other” facilities experienced more suicidal deaths than public or private facilities; facilities charging less experienced more deaths.