A sociological autopsy lens on older adult suicide in rural Australia: Addressing health, psychosocial factors and care practices at the intersection of policies and institutions. (September 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Fitzpatrick, Scott J.; Read, Donna; Brew, Bronwyn K.; Perkins, David
• Is Part Of: Social science & medicine. Volume 284(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-09
• Subjects: Suicide -- Older adults -- Sociological autopsy -- Rural -- End of life -- Australia; Social medicine -- Periodicals; Medical anthropology -- Periodicals; Public health -- Periodicals; Psychology -- Periodicals; Medicine -- Periodicals; Medicine -- Periodicals; Médecine sociale -- Périodiques; Anthropologie médicale -- Périodiques; Santé publique -- Périodiques; Psychologie -- Périodiques; Médecine -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 362.105
• DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2021.114196
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0277-9536

Abstract

Abstract: This paper examines the interrelationship between suicide, health, socioeconomic, and psychosocial factors in contributing to suicide in older adults in rural Australia. Drawing on a coronial dataset of suicide cases and a mixed methods sociological autopsy approach, our study integrated a quantitative analysis of 792 suicide cases with a qualitative analysis of medico-legal reports from 30 cases. The sociological autopsy provided novel insights into the entanglement of policy and service provision at the state-level with individual end-of-life decisions. Particular attention is drawn to age and gendered dimensions of suicide, especially in relation to health and social issues. The study showed a continuity between suicide and the patterning of an individual's life course, including experiences and consequences of inequality and marginality; a desire to meet culturally–normative ideals of autonomy; and a fragmented, under-funded, and intimidating social care system that offered limited options. Highlights: Sociological autopsy applied to unique coronial dataset of older adult suicide. Combines quantitative and qualitative analyses of data from medico-legal reports. Age and gendered differences in health and social issues related to suicide. State-level policies and practices intersect with individual end-of-life decisions. Imperative of prevention creates harmful environments and consequences.