Citation

Hegerl U, Koburger N, Hug J. Nervenheilkd. 2015; 34(11): 900-905.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, Georg Thieme Verlag)

DOI

10.1055/s-0038-1627646

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

With approximately 10 000 suicides and 200 000 suicide attempts each year in Germany, suicidal behaviour poses a challenge to the health care system. In this article, specific aspects such as age and gender differences in suicidal behaviour, etiological considerations and prevention strategies are discussed. Thereby it is questioned whether psychosocial aspects, such as stress or unemployment as well as physical illness are overestimated as causal factors for suicidal behaviour. There is strong evidence that the majority of suicide attempts and completed suicides in Europe occurs in the context of psychiatric disorders, particularly depressive disorders. Due to this strong association, improved care and treatment of depressed individuals is a core component in suicide prevention programmes. The community-based 4-level intervention programme of the German Depression Foundation, that has been implemented and evaluated in Germany and Europe, combines the aims of an improved care of depressed patients and that of preventing suicidal behaviour. © Schattauer 2015.

Language: de

Keywords

Prevention; human; Depression; Suicide; Germany; Europe; depression; sex difference; stress; suicide attempt; suicidal behavior; unemployment; disease association; social psychology; physical disease; Article