Suicidal ideation and attempts in older adults in Chile: A retrospective study in Primary Health Care (2019–2024)

Abstract

Introduction: Suicidal ideation refers to fleeting or persistent thoughts about ending one’s life, including detailed plans to carry it out. In contrast, a suicide attempt involves deliberate actions aimed at causing one’s own death. Both phenomena are part of the spectrum of suicidal behavior and serve as risk indicators for completed suicide. Globally, approximately every 40 seconds, a person dies by suicide. In Chile, suicidal ideation and attempts have increased in recent years, especially among adolescents and older adults. Additionally, there has been a documented rise in emergency room visits due to suicidal ideation. Objective: To analyze emergency psychiatric service (PSM) admissions for suicidal ideation and suicide attempts between 2019 and 2024 among individuals aged 60 and over in Chile. Methodology: Longitudinal observational study. Data from DEIS (Department of Health Statistics and Information) were processed. Results: A total of 3,797 admissions to PSM were recorded, with the majority being women (68.8%). Suicidal ideation was the leading cause of admission, with 2,746 cases (72.3%), while suicide attempts accounted for 1,051 cases (27.7%). Discussion: Women showed higher rates of suicidal ideation and attempts across all age groups 60 and older. A decrease in the suicide rate was also reported (2020–2021), suggesting a reduced incidence of completed suicides despite the exacerbation of risk factors for suicidal behavior. Conclusion: There is a revealed increase in cases of suicidal ideation and attempts in primary healthcare (APS), highlighting the need to strengthen strategies for detection, timely intervention, and continuous follow-up.