A new study explored the relationship between loneliness, suicidal thoughts and death ideation in older adults. Overall, feeling lonely was linked with thoughts of wanting to die, according to the results.
Researchers evaluated the concept in adults 50 and older of a “wish to die,” which includes a person’s thoughts about dying or thinking they would be better off dead. It’s a common indicator and a critical marker for potential suicidal behavior.
The report was published Aug. 20 in Frontiers in Public Health.
Data came from more than 8,000 people participating in the Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA). In the month prior to the interview, 4% of participants expressed a wish to die, and 10% had clinically significant levels of depression.
The researchers found that the subjective feeling of loneliness was more strongly linked with death ideation than with other measures of social disconnection, such as living alone or being socially isolated. The association between loneliness and a wish to die remained strong after the team controlled for depression and other markers of social disconnection.
Regular attendance at religious services and other communal activities helped lower death ideation among the adults. Cognitive-behavioral therapy targeting depression and anxiety may also reduce the impact of loneliness.
“This study demonstrates the importance of addressing mental health concerns and maintaining social connectedness in later life. ‘Wish to Die,’ which involves wishes for one’s own death or thoughts that one would be better off dead, is strongly linked with future suicide attempts,” Robert Briggs, a consulting geriatrician at St James’s Hospital and co-author of the study, said in a statement.
“An enhanced focus on improving access to mental healthcare and addressing social isolation in older people should therefore be a priority for policymakers,” Briggs said.
