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[Changes in the frequency of suicidal behaviour after a 2-year intervention campaign]
D Althaus1, G Niklewski, A Schmidtke
1Kompetenznetz Depression, Suizidalität, Nussbaumstrasse 7, 80336 München. dalthaus@med.uni-muenchen.de
Der Nervenarzt
|March 9, 2006
Summary
The Nuremberg Alliance against Depression program significantly reduced suicide attempts by 21.7%. This public health initiative improved depression care quality and demonstrated a successful model for preventing suicide.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Mental Health Research
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Untreated depression is a leading cause of suicide.
- The Nuremberg Alliance against Depression aimed to enhance depression care quality.
- The program involved general practitioners, public awareness campaigns, and self-help support.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of the Nuremberg Alliance against Depression program.
- To assess the impact of the intervention on suicide rates.
Main Methods:
- A prospective study conducted in Nuremberg, Germany (2001-2002).
- Suicidal acts (completed suicides and attempts) were monitored.
- Data was compared to a baseline year (2000) and a control region (Wuerzburg).
Main Results:
- A significant decrease of 21.7% in suicidal acts was observed.
- The reduction was primarily driven by a lower incidence of suicide attempts.
- The intervention demonstrated a positive impact on suicide prevention.
Conclusions:
- The Nuremberg model project successfully reduced suicidal acts.
- The program's success led to its adoption in other regions across Germany and Europe.
- Regional alliances against depression are an effective strategy for suicide prevention.
