Listless and Lonely in Puerto Rico, Some Older Storm Survivors Consider Suicide

A report from the Puerto Rico Department of Public Health estimates that the island's suicide rate rose 29 percent last year, especially following Hurricane Maria as older storm survivors succumbed to loneliness and despair, reports Kaiser Health News . Psychologists and social workers note seniors are particularly vulnerable when their daily routines are disrupted for prolonged periods. "Before, they used to watch television, they would watch their novellas, hear the radio," says social worker Lisel Vargas. Such predictable routines gave their lives meaning and order. "Because they feel depressed, they don't have that desire to keep that routine of sharing in the community," Vargas notes. Adrian Gonzalez, chief operating officer at Castañer General Hospital, laments that many older Puerto Ricans "live alone, with no power, no water and very little food." He says the loss of routine has created widespread anxiety among this demographic. "We have two in-house psychologists and right now their schedules are packed," Gonzalez notes. Dr. Angel Munoz believes people who care for older adults need to be trained to identify the warning signs of suicide. "Many of these ... people either live alone or are being taken care of by neighbors," he says. "They are not even relatives."