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Suicidal Ideation in Canadian Family Caregivers for a Person with Dementia: A Portrait of the Situation

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 February 2024

Audrée Teasdale-Dubé Open the ORCID record for Audrée Teasdale-Dubé [Opens in a new window] ,
Charles Viau-Quesnel Open the ORCID record for Charles Viau-Quesnel [Opens in a new window]  and
Sylvie Lapierre
Audrée Teasdale-Dubé*
Affiliation:
Département de Psychologie, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, QC, Canada Quebec Network for Research on Aging, Montreal, QC, Canada
Charles Viau-Quesnel
Affiliation:
Quebec Network for Research on Aging, Montreal, QC, Canada Département de Psychoéducation, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, QC, Canada Laboratoire Interdisciplinaire de Recherche en Gérontologie, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, QC, Canada
Sylvie Lapierre
Affiliation:
Département de Psychologie, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, QC, Canada Quebec Network for Research on Aging, Montreal, QC, Canada Laboratoire Interdisciplinaire de Recherche en Gérontologie, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, QC, Canada
*
Corresponding author: La correspondance et les demandes de tirésàpart doivent être adressées à : / Correspondence and requests for offprints should be sent to: Audrée Teasdale-Dubé, Département de Psychologie, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, QC, Canada ([email protected]).
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Abstract

This study aimed to explore the prevalence of suicidal thoughts and potential associations (i.e., strength and direction) with caregiver characteristics or factors. A targeted survey was distributed to dementia caregivers aged 55+ years. Questions concerning psychological distress, suicidal thoughts while caregiving and antecedents of suicidal behaviours were administered. A sample of 71 French-speaking Canadian caregivers completed the survey between May and October 2019. Among them, 52.1 per cent (n = 37) reported suicidal ideation while providing care to a relative or a friend living with dementia. Caregivers who presented suicidal ideation reported more abusive behaviour toward the care recipient. Caregivers who reported suicidal thoughts were significantly more distressed than caregivers without them on measures of burden, depression, and anxiety. Suicidal thoughts in caregivers are important evaluation targets, primarily for the prevention of suicide, but also because caregivers who report suicidal thoughts also present a heightened risk for abusing the care recipient.

Résumé

Résumé

Cette étude visait à explorer la prévalence des pensées suicidaires et leurs associations potentielles (notamment dans l’intensité et l’orientation) avec les caractéristiques ou les facteurs des proches aidants. Une enquête ciblée a été distribuée aux proches aidants de personnes atteintes de démence âgées de plus de 55 ans. Des questions concernant la détresse psychologique, les pensées suicidaires pendant la prestation de soins et les antécédents de comportements suicidaires ont été posées. Un échantillon de 71 proches aidants canadiens francophones a répondu à l’enquête entre mai et octobre 2019. Parmi eux, 52,1 per cent (n = 37) ont déclaré avoir eu des idées suicidaires alors qu’ils prodiguaient des soins à un.e parent.e ou un.e ami.e atteint.e de démence. Les proches aidants qui ont déclaré avoir des idées suicidaires ont rapporté plus de comportements abusifs envers le bénéficiaire des soins. Par rapport aux proches aidants qui n’avaient pas d’idées suicidaires, ceux qui en avaient manifestaient un niveau de détresse significativement plus élevé, d’après les paramètres du fardeau, de la dépression et de l’anxiété. Les pensées suicidaires chez les proches aidants sont des cibles d’évaluation importantes, principalement pour la prévention du suicide, mais aussi parce que les proches aidants qui font état de pensées suicidaires présentent également un risque accru de maltraitance à l’égard du bénéficiaire des soins.

Keywords

suicidal ideationcaregivingdementia caregivingcaregiver burdensuicide riskagingidées suicidairesproche aidancedémencefardeau du proche aidantrisque suicidairevieillissement
Type
Article
Information
Canadian Journal on Aging / La Revue canadienne du vieillissement , Volume 43 , Issue 3 , September 2024 , pp. 438 - 445
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Copyright
© Canadian Association on Gerontology 2024

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