Citation

De Leo D, Wyder M. Psychiatr. Danub. 2006; 18(Suppl 1): 102.

Affiliation

Australian Institute for Suicide Research and Prevention, Griffith University, QLD 4111, Brisbane, Australia. D.Deleo@mailbox.gu.edu.au.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2006, Facultas Universitatis Studiorum Zagrabiensis - Danube Symposion of Psychiatry)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

16964043

Abstract

Background: In this presentation data from Australia, New Zealand, Sweden, and Norway are discussed in light of the implementation of national suicide prevention strategies. Method: To examine the impact of national suicide prevention plans on suicide mortality, the average rates and trends in the six years before and after the implementation of the strategy were compared. Analysis considered changes in rates and trends for all ages and for the 15-24 year age group. Average rates were calculated based on the aggregated numbers and populations for the 6-year period. Trends were calculated via linear regression and indicating the direction and magnitude of the slope created by rates in the 6-year period. A statistically significant reduction in the slope of post-implementation suicide mortality trends as compared to that related to pre-implementation suicide mortality trends was adopted as an indicator of a possible positive impact of national suicide prevention strategies. Results: While enthusiasm for anti-suicide national strategies is increasing throughout the world, this analysis suggests that declines in suicide seen in Australia and abroad cannot be validly attributed to the introduction of national prevention plans. Even if the strategies were partly responsible for recent reductions, the component of those plans which have contributed to the reduction cannot currently been identified. Suggestions for future preventative activities, as well as forecasting on outcomes from some of the existing national strategies will conclude the presentation.

Language: en