Older Adults -- Aging in Canada: Suicide and Older Adults: a growing concern: When we think of suicide, there is a tendency to focus on youth as those are the cases that appear to be mentioned most frequently in the ...
I can't even imagine what the children experience when their parent commits suicide. I have very little exposure to this issue. I once heard of an elder from a neighbouring first nation community who committed suicide. I was in total shock as the person had hung themselves in a closet. This issue is not openly discussed. I believe because of our world view of protecting the rights of the living, deceased and the unborn. Aboriginal youth suicide it seems is more prevalent. I always listen to our elders when someone does take their own life and they say they "loose their spirit" Miigwetch Kayla for this heart wrenching social issue.
- Janet
Janet, reading your blog made me very upset thinking about the children that have lost their parents from suicide.I am eighteen and I can't even begin to describe how losing my parents would feel at such a young age. I rely on them for a lot.I agree that many people today don't focus on suicide among older adults as large of an issue compared to the suicides occurring in the youth age. I think this very unfortunate social issue should be equally focused on for the different age groups in society, as well as help services equally available. I am not from an Aboriginal community, but it is very upsetting to hear about the amount of suicides that occur in these communities. I think it is very important that many services are available to help the people in Aboriginal communities that seek help in healing themselves before it gets to the point where they feel like they can no longer handle their emotions.
ReplyDeleteLindsay
There are not much suicides with the elderly, however, it does happen. I know of one elder person in my community, but this old person was terminally ill with cancer. It saddens me to hear of an old person wanting to commit suicide. Myself I am an elder and have never thought of that. I love my children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren dearly.
ReplyDeleteArlene (older adult group)