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SCMP Reporter

A PROBE into depression and a survey of suicide prevention services are under way in a bid to stem the hundreds of instances of elderly people killing themselves each year.

  The findings of the Samaritans' survey of 10 suicide-prevention services are expected to be released to the Government shortly.

  Psychiatric consultant Dr Yue Chi-sing, pioneering the programme at Kwai Chung Hospital, said a questionnaire was being tested on 461 patients in 10 hospital psychiatric units and could be introduced by next year.

  The quiz consists of 30 yes or no questions which lead to a rating on a depression scale used in the United States since the 1970s. It can be used by family members, social workers and other non-medical staff to determine whether elderly people are depressed and need referral for psychiatric help.

  A special Chinese version of the quiz and scale may be adopted.

  Applied social sciences lecturer at City Polytechnic, Dr Alfred Chan Cheung-ming, is considering altering the questionnaire because 11 yes answers overseas equates to depression.

  Dr Chan believes 12 to 14 might be more appropriate in the Chinese context.

  Both doctors said depression in the elderly was a serious problem and might be under-diagnosed by general doctors. Statistics from the Samaritans showed that 45 people out of every 100,000 aged over 75 committed suicide, compared with only four in 100,000 young people aged between five and 19.

    The president of the Association of Gerontology, Dr Edward Leung Man-fuk, welcomed the questionnaire and scale because anyone could use it.

  Many elderly people lived in isolated areas and there were insufficient outreach services.

  Dr Leung felt that Governor Chris Patten's policy proposal had overlooked outreach services. Only Tsuen Wan and Wan Chai have such services.

  The City Polytechnic's Dr John Tse Wing-ling, who is conducting the Samaritans' survey of the services helping prevent suicides, said initial findings had raised questions about whether appropriate help was provided for the elderly.

  Only one per cent of the elderly called for help even though their age group experienced the highest suicide rate.

  Normal hotlines were often heavily used by callers who were not at high risk, but just needed someone to talk to.

  Dr Tse expected the findings to be presented to the health authorities and voluntary organisations in November.

  He said about 220 elderly people committed suicide each year.



Quiz may help stem suicides among elderly