The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (Tilda) found that older adults who frequently attend religious services or have more regular social connections are much less likely to desire to pass away, reports Breaking News.
The study’s primary investigator, Professor Rose Anne Kenny, stated on RTÉ radio’s Today with Claire Byrne program that a recent poll revealed a higher likelihood of persons desiring their own death as a result of loneliness in later life.
Four percent of respondents to the question, “Have you felt you would rather be dead in the last month?” said they would.
“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,” reports Breaking News.
But these emotions were fleeting, she added, and could be impacted by shifts in society.
“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,” reports Breaking News.
The fact that depressed symptoms were more common in the winter than in the summer was another contributing factor. Prof. Kenny continued, “Simple changes like having friends and being socially engaged and connected could also have a big impact.”
“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,” reports Breaking News.
It was unclear which aspect of attending religious services—the social interaction or the spirituality—had a positive impact.
Prof. Kenny advised individuals to start thinking about retirement. Tribal systems have developed inside society, serving a purpose at every level of development. Being involved was vital because when people were alone, their cells sensed that they were purposeless.
“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,” reports Breaking News.
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