Older people who regularly attend religious services or have a more regular social connection are much less likely to have a wish to die, according to research conducted by the Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (Tilda).
Professor Rose Anne Kenny, principal instigator of the study, told RTÉ radio’s Today with Claire Byrne show that their most recent survey found that there is an increased risk of people wishing for their own death due to loneliness in later life.
The question posed had been “in the last month have you felt you would rather be dead” to which four percent answered yes.
“I think that's pretty dramatic myself. And when we looked down into what were the factors that influence that response of wishing to be dead, three quarters of those reported being lonely. And then there was also a higher prevalence of being depressed. But of course, depression and loneliness go hand-in-hand.”
However, such feelings were transient, she said, and could be influenced by societal changes.
“As life circumstances change or treatment for depression changes or loneliness changes, it's important that people are aware that having that death wish really isn't the end of the line. It can change and does change. And that there are pretty easy ways that we can influence that, but clearly, that needs to be at a societal level, and for others to be aware, because it's very hard for the individual themselves to get themselves out of that feeling without others helping them.”
Another factor of depressive symptoms was that they appeared more in winter months than in summer months. Simple changes could also have a big impact – just having friends and being socially connected and engaged, added Prof. Kenny.
“One of the things we found when we drilled into the associations in the study was that people who regularly attend religious services or have more regular social connection, make friends, get engaged in something on a voluntary basis in the community, they were much less likely to have a wish to die. And that was one of the things also, which influenced the transition from being in this state to no longer being in that state two years later.”
It was not clear whether it was the spirituality or the social engagement of attending religious services that had a beneficial influence.
Prof. Kenny urged people to prepare for retirement. Society had evolved within a tribal system with a function at each stage of life. If people were isolated, their cells recognised that they did not have purpose, so it was important to be involved.
“I would say preparation is an important goal. We might be working, feel fine, etc., but be prepared for retirement. Be prepared for stages in your life by starting to build activities or a cohort of friends, or even join a choir, or join a charity shop to help with volunteering.
"People who volunteer are actually much less likely to suffer from depression and loneliness and actually are physically better, independent of other reasons. We've also shown that if you don't get involved in volunteering before you retire, you're much, much less likely to do it after retirement.”
