WEDNESDAY, MAY 30, 1984
21
NO DISCERNIBLE TREND IN SUICIDES AMONG OLD
*****
THE SUICIDE RATES PER 100 000 PERSONS AT THE AGE OF 70 AND OVER WERE 45.3 IN 1981, 24.1 IN 1982 AND 38.1 IN 1983, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, THE HON HENRY CHING, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
IN THE THREE YEARS, THE RATES FOR THOSE FROM THE AGES OF 65 TO 70 WERE 35.7, 25.2 AND 34.5, AND FOR THOSE FROM THE AGES OF 60 TO 65 WERE 29, 23 AND 30.8, MR CHING SAID, IN REPLY TO QUESTIONS FROM DR THE HON HO KAM-FAI.
+ I DO NOT THINK THERE IS ANY DISCERNIBLE TREND IN THESE FIGURES OF SUICIDE RATES AMONG ELDERLY PEOPLE OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS, HE SAID.
HOTLINE TELEPHONE SERVICES RUN BY THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT AND THE SAMARITANS, AND COUNSELLING SERVICES PROVIDED AT CENTRES OPERATED BY THE GOVERNMENT AND VOLUNTARY AGENCIES WERE AMONG THOSE AVAILABLE TO HELP ELDERLY PEOPLE UNDER EMOTIONAL STRESS, HE POINTED OUT.
+AND OF COURSE WE SHOULD NOT OVERLOOK THE HELP AND MORAL SUPPORT AVAILABLE FROM THE FAMILY, FRIENDS, NEIGHBOURS, CHURCHES AND COMMUNITY ASSOCIATIONS,+ HE ADDED.
A GREAT DEAL COULD BE ACHIEVED BY A CARING COMMUNITY IN HELPING THE ELDERLY TO PRESERVE THE IR SELF-RESPECT AND TO REMAIN SOCIALLY INTEGRATED, THEREBY FORTIFYING THEM AGAINST EMOTIONAL STRESS, MR CHING SAID.
+ THE GOVERNMENT'S AIM IS TO GIVE EVERY ENCOURAGEMENT TO THE ELDERLY TO REMAIN WITHIN THE COMMUNITY AS LONG AS POSSIBLE, RATHER THAN TO WITHDRAW INTO INSTITUTIONS, AND IN PARTICULAR TO REMAIN WITHIN A FAMILY OR FAMILIAR ENVIRONMENT.
+SUCH SERVICES AS HOME HELP, DAY CARE CENTRES AND SOCIAL CENTRES ARE ESSENTIAL FOR THE ACHIEVEMENT OF THIS AIM,+ HẸ SAID.
BUT EMOTIONAL STRESS COULD NOT BE AVOIDED ALTOGETHER, GIVEN THAT OLD AGE MIGHT BRING WITH IT SUCH DIFFICULTIES AS ILL-HEALTH AND FINANCIAL OR HOUSING PROBLEMS, HE STATED.
+ IT IS IN THESE ARE AS PARTICULARLY THAT THE GOVERNMENT CAN MOST APPROPRIATELY HELP, AND THERE ARE ON-GOING PROGRAMMES DESIGNED TO MEET THESE NEEDS OF THE ELDERLY AND SO TO ASSIST
IN REDUCING SOME OF THE MORE IMPORTANT UNDERLYING CAUSES OF EMOTIONAL STRESS, MR CHING SAID.
/22