ByTauren Dyson (0)
Lawmakers and medical professionals need to help curb the #suicide risk for older adults living in long-term care, a new study shows. File Photo by C Levers/Shutterstock
JamesDonaldson notes:
Welcome to the “next chapter” of my life… being a voice and an advocate for #mentalhealthawarenessandsuicideprevention, especially pertaining to our younger generation of students and student-athletes.
Getting men to speak up and reach out for help and assistance is one of my passions. Us men need to not suffer in silence or drown our sorrows in alcohol, hang out at bars and strip joints, or get involved with drug use.
Having gone through a recent bout of #depression and #suicidalthoughts myself, I realize now, that I can make a huge difference in the lives of so many by sharing my story, and by sharing various resources I come across as I work in this space. #http://bit.ly/JamesMentalHealthArticle
June 17 (UPI) — Lawmakers and medical professionals need to help curb the #suicide risk for older adults living in long-term care, a new study shows.
The research, published Monday in JAMA Network Open, highlights the importance of providing emotional well-being and other #mentahealth care services to adults over age 55 who live in, or are thinking of moving into, nursing homes and assisted-living facilities.
“There are things we can do to promote the emotional health and psychosocial well-being of people who are living in long-term care facilities or are transitioning into them and their family members,” Briana Mezuk, a researcher at University of Michigan’s School of Public Health and study lead author, said in a news release.
For the study, the researchers used a computer algorithm to examine data from police and medical examiner reports on 47,759 #suicide deaths of people over age 55. The data was collected between 2003 and 2015.RELATED Deaths from drug ODs, suicide soaring among millennials, report shows
Through that time, more than 1,000 of those #suicide deaths occurred in long-term care settings. Among that group, 428 adults committed #suicide while living in long-term facilities and 449 were transitioning into or out of long-term care, researchers say.
Beyond patients, 160 adult caregivers helping elderly family members in long-term care or during recovery from a hospitalization, also took their own lives. The study suggests these relatives may have felt stress or fear from the financial burden of providing long-term care.
“We need to be supporting interventions to promote the emotional #health of people in their 60s or 70s, 80s and 90s, even if they also happen to have diabetes or they happen to have mobility problems,” Mezuk said. “#Suicide is a very extreme outcome; it is the tip of the iceberg.”RELATED Epilepsy drug linked to increased suicide risk in young people
Adults between age 45 and 54 make up 20.2 percent of the suicides in the United States, but rates for people over age 85 come a close second at 20.1 percent, according to the #AmericanFoundationforSuicidePrevention.
“We have a diverse set of tools and techniques for promoting emotional #health of older adults and thus reducing #suicide risk; they aren’t being implemented to their fullest degree,” Mezuk said. “Our analysis helps illustrate the importance of addressing this gap.”
James Donaldson is a Washington State University graduate (’79). After an outstanding basketball career with WSU, he went on to play professional basketball in the NBA with the Seattle Supersonics, San Diego/L.A. Clippers, Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks, and Utah Jazz. He also played for several teams in the European Leagues in Spain, Italy, and Greece, and he toured with The Harlem Globetrotters to wrap up his career. James was an NBA All-Star in 1988 while playing center for the Dallas Mavericks. In 2006, James was inducted into the Pac-10 Sports Hall of Fame and also the Washington State University Athletic Hall of Fame. In 2010, James was elected as a board member for the NBA Retired Players Association.
James frequently conducts speaking engagements (motivational, inspirational, educational) for organizations, schools, and youth groups.
In 2010, James was the recipient of the NBA Legends of Basketball ABC Award, awarded for outstanding contributions in Athletics–Business–Community.
He believes in being a role model for success and professionalism to the scores of young people to whom he devotes so much of his time. He currently serves on several boards and committees and is a member of many organizations.
James believes in developing relationships that create a “Win-Win” environment for everyone involved, and in being the best he can be!
For more information about James Donaldson or to request he speak at your event, contact him at:
www.StandingAboveTheCrowd.com
[email protected]
1-800-745-3161 (voicemail & fax)
James Donaldson is the author of “Standing Above The Crowd” and “Celebrating Your Gift of Life” and founder of the Your Gift of Life Foundation which focuses on mental health awareness and suicide prevention, especially pertaining to our school aged children and men.
If you’re interested in having James come and speak to your group of young adults, business entrepreneurs, aspiring political and community leaders, and athletic teams, please contact him at [email protected] and or leave a personal message for him at 1-800-745-3161. Keep up with him and read about how he is reaching out and making a difference in the lives of so many around the world at www.yourgiftoflife.org
