Nineteen elderly individuals have taken their own lives between January and August of this year, while there were 60 recorded attempts during the same period last year, as revealed by Assistant Minister for Women, Children, and Social Protection, Sashi Kiran, during a recent event in Labasa.
At the soft launch of the Golden Age Home, Ms. Kiran noted that two of the individuals who died by suicide this year were over the age of 60. She expressed deep concern over the abandonment of older adults, highlighting the detrimental impact this negligence can have on their mental health and well-being.
“This is a distressing trend where our elderly feel neglected and are resorting to these tragic choices,” she said. Ms. Kiran called on families and communities to pay more attention to the needs of aging members.
She further illustrated the consequences of neglecting elderly individuals, saying, “When we overlook our older persons, the foundation of our families weakens, leading to broader social problems where families fracture.”
According to Ms. Kiran, there are currently 112 abandoned elderly people residing in three government-operated care homes located in Labasa, Suva, and Lautoka. She reported that a significant 86 percent of these seniors live with some form of disability, complicating their lives even further.
Ms. Kiran emphasized that Fiji is traditionally known for its compassion and urged the community to actively engage with elderly citizens, allowing them the opportunity to continue contributing to society and guiding younger generations.