Experiences of loneliness in older adults with suicidal ideation
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A Qualitative Exploration of Loneliness Among Urban and Rural Older Adults Who Have Experienced Suicidal Thoughts
IRAS ID
366517
Contact name
Christine Gray
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
The University of Glasgow
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 11 months, 30 days
Research summary
This study aims to explore experiences of loneliness among older adults, aged 65 and over, presenting with suicidal ideation and how rural or urban living may impact this. This will be explored by answering the following research question:
In what way does rural or urban living impact on experiences of loneliness among older adults who have experienced suicidal ideation?
Between 10 and 12 older adults, aged 65 and over, will be recruited via their clinician within NHS Lanarkshire's Psychological Therapies for Older People (PTOP) Service. The PTOP team will be fully briefed regards the research by providing them with information sheets detailing the purpose of the study and asked to share these with patients they believe are suitable. Potential participants will consent to be contacted through their clinician and will receive a follow-up phone call from the researcher to discuss their participation further and seek informed consent to arrange a date for interview and establish if they live in a rural or urban location. Inclusion criteria are a referral to PTOP and disclosure of suicidal thoughts. Exclusion criteria include known cognitive impairment, known learning disability, substance misuse or current psychosis.
The study will aim to recruit approximately half of participants from rural locations and half from urban locations. Following completion of interview and data capture questionnaire, the participants’ residential postcodes captured on the questionnaire will be coded using the Scottish Government urban rural classification, used for profiling death by suicide (NRS, 2024) by the researcher. PTOP define ‘Older Adults’ to be aged 65+.
REC name
East of Scotland Research Ethics Service REC 1
REC reference
26/ES/0039
Date of REC Opinion
12 Jun 2026
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion